“I did not know Boswell circus changed their name to ‘military’,” said one social media user, while another commented: “[The] circus is in town with all its clowns.”

These are just two of hundreds of comments on several social media posts with videos of the SANDF’s display at the yearly Rand Show over Easter weekend.

The video above shows a soldier crashing into a fence after attempting to land in the display arena with a parachute. The incident prompted famous South African puppet Chester Missing to jokingly say: “Turns out they’re called ‘defence force’ because that’s where they’ll crash: Da fence.”

In response to media queries sent by Caxton Network News, SANDF defence corporate communication director Brigadier General Selinah Rawlins says parachute demonstrations are highly dependent on weather conditions, particularly wind speed and direction. “These factors occasionally result in outcomes that differ from the intended precision of the display. It is important to note that such demonstrations are conducted in controlled environments and are not reflective of operational deployments.”

Another mishap caught on video shows troops on motorcycles colliding with each other.

Rawlins says the motorbike incident is regarded as ‘minor’. “It cannot be attributed to poor co-ordination, as some have suggested. Our equipment remains in good working condition, and the incident does not reflect systemic issues within the SANDF.”

She adds that such occurrences are isolated and ‘do not compromise the integrity of our demonstrations or our operational capability’.

South Africans weren’t sure whether to laugh or cry about these incidents, and also had plenty to say about the combat demonstrations:

While citizens were quick to label the army as a ‘joke’ and question its capabilities amid escalating global tensions, Rawlins says the demonstrations at the Rand Show were part of public displays designed to showcase aspects of the SANDF’s diverse skills.

“They do not represent the full scope of our training, discipline or combat readiness. In real-world operations, SANDF personnel operate under carefully planned conditions, with broader landing zones, advanced equipment and mission-specific strategies that ensure effectiveness and safety,” she emphasises.

According to her, public demonstrations are intended to ‘inspire and engage’, but they should not be seen as a measure of the defence force’s fighting capability.

“The SANDF wishes to state categorically that its soldiers undergo rigorous training to ensure they are ready to defend the nation under any circumstances,” she concludes.

According to the Rand Show website, this was ‘the SANDF’s largest display yet’.

Rand Show CEO Adele Hartdegen tells Caxton Network News: “As the organiser, we don’t feel it is within our remit, nor would it be appropriate, to comment on the operational capacity of any government entities.”

While most of the comments were negative, one social media user posted on X that the videos and photos are not a ‘true representation of what our military is about and can do’.

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