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Theresa May has been filmed dancing with schoolchildren in Cape Town on the first day of her visit to Africa – a trip she hopes will boost trade ties ahead of Brexit .
The South African government posted a video on Twitter showing the prime minister being welcomed by students dancing and singing at Mkhize Senior Secondary school.
In the footage, Ms May is seen shuffling left and right and smiling at the pupils before being led towards the school building by officials.
Ms May's 'Maybot' dancing divided judgements on social media.
"I’m here for all the May dancing. Incredible," one Twitter user wrote.
However, one rather less kind critic commented: "Theresa May dances like she’s had her freedom of movement surgically removed."
The prime minister’s moves came ahead of a speech in Cape Town in which she promised to use the UK’s aid budget to help private British companies invest more in Africa than competitors from any other country.
Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in picturesShow all 39 1 /39Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures British Prime Minister Theresa May reviews a military guard of honour at the State House in Nairobi. May wraps up a three day tour of Africa in Kenya as she seeks to drum up post-Brexit deals before quitting the European Union on a continent which has increasingly looked elsewhere for trade and investment
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Prime Minister Theresa May in breaks into dance whilst meeting with scouts at the United Nations offices in Nairobi on the third day of her visit to Africa
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Prime Minister Theresa May in breaks into dance whilst meeting with scouts at the United Nations offices in Nairobi on the third day of her visit to Africa
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Prime Minister Theresa May in breaks into dance whilst meeting with scouts at the United Nations offices in Nairobi on the third day of her visit to Africa
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Prime Minister Theresa May dancing with students and staff at ID Mkize Secondary School in Cape Town
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Theresa May meets charity workers at a Salvation Army centre in Lagos, where modern slavery was discussed
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at the State House in Nairobi to meet with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta welcomes Theresa May
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Prime Minister Theresa May and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta address a press conference at the state house in Nairobi
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Theresa May with the President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta at the State House in Nairobi
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at the State House in Nairobi, to meet the President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta, on the third day of her visit to Africa.
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Theresa May meets Nigerian President Buharia at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Nigeria
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Prime Minister Theresa May arrives in Abuja, Nigeria, on day two of her trip to Africa
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Theresa May arrives in Abuja, Nigeria on day two of her trip to Africa
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Theresa May arrives in Abuja, Nigeria on day two of her trip to Africa
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Nigerian President Buhari and Theresa May watch as the Nigerian Budget and National Planning Minister and the British Trade Policy Minister sign a bilateral agreement on Nigerian trade development
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Theresa May meets South African president Cyril Ramaphosa at DeTuynhuys Presidential Palace in Cape Town
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Prime Minister Theresa May meets students and staff at ID Mkize Secondary School in Cape Town, which is twinned with Whitby High School in Yorkshire
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Theresa May arrives in Abuja, Nigeria
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures The two schools are part of a British Council funded teacher exchange scheme called 'Connected Classrooms'
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures The Prime Minister enters the cell in which Nelson Mandela was held on Robben Island Cape Town
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Prime Minister Theresa May meets South African president Cyril Ramaphosa
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Theresa May dancing with students and staff at ID Mkize Secondary School in Cape Town
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Theresa May and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa take part in the ceremony to hand over the bell of the SS Mendi
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Theresa May and South African president Cyril Ramaphosa shake hands
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Theresa May poses for a picture with school children
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Theresa May and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa take part in the ceremony to hand over the bell of the SS Mendi
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Theresa May dancing with students and staff at ID Mkize Secondary School in Cape Town
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Theresa May exits stage right following an address to business leaders at the offices of First National Bank in Cape Town
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures A group of school children at the ID Mkhize Secondary School, take a selfie with a phone with a Union Jack cover
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures The Prime Minister is on day one of her trip to South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya on a trade mission designed to bolster the UK's post-Brexit fortunes
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Theresa May talks with students
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Theresa May speaks to business leaders at the offices of First National Bank in Cape Town
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Theresa May meets students and staff
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Theresa May is greeted by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Theresa May speaks to staff at I.D. Mkize Secondary School
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Theresa May is greeted by schoolchildren waving British and South African flags
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Theresa May speaks to students
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Theresa May visits Africa on trade trip – in pictures Prime Minister Theresa May walks with Nomvula Mokonyane - the South African Minister of Communications - as she arrives at Cape Town airport
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Ms May said she wants investment levels from UK firms into projects on the continent to outstrip those from the US and France by 2022.
But her commitment to deploy aid money to “support the private sector to take root and grow”, will likely be questioned by charities and NGOs already concerned with the government’s approach.
Ms May embarked on her three-day visit to South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya with ministers and business people on Monday, promising to transform Britain’s relations with the nations as it tries to carve out a post-Brexit role in the world.
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