Wait, did he say LEFT or RIGHT turn? Moment South African police guard gets horribly confused at ceremonial funeral in front of the PRESIDENT
- South African Entrepreneur Dr Richard Maponya, 99, died after a short illness
- SAPS has been branded a ‘laughing stock’ after messing up salute at his funeral
- Two officers turn the wrong way at the West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg
- It was a ‘unfortunate mistake and highly regrettable’, a police spokesman said
A video has emerged of a South African police guard confusing his left from right and messing up the salute at Dr Richard Maponya’s funeral in front of the President.
The business entrepreneur was granted a full ceremonial funeral at which President Cyril Ramaphosa was to give the eulogy praising his courage during apartheid.
In the live footage, four highly decorated officers are seen standing proudly to attention and waiting for their command at the West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg.
A South African Police officer messed up the funeral ceremony of Dr Richard Maponya as he turned the wrong way. He waited for his command at the West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg before shuffling around on the spot
Seconds later, the order was given for them to be dismissed and to quickly march away, in the live broadcast.
But in an embarrassing turn of events, the two middle officers turn the wrong way and get horribly confused.
The officers then appear to argue about who should be facing each way as their President looks on.
Eventually they took their lead from the four Honour Guard police chiefs opposite and when they marched off followed in the same direction looking extremely sheepish.
To make matters worse, he appeared to argue with the other officers about who should be facing each way as their President looked on
The South African Police Service have been branded a laughing stock after a video of their Honour Guard went viral.
National Police spokesman Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said: ‘The drill was an unfortunate mistake and highly regrettable.’
Thousands took to Twitter to lambast the hapless efforts of the coffin detail.
Muhlezi Ntombela tweeted: ‘How do they even catch criminals if they cannot collaborate a simple march away from the coffin at the scene of their comrade’s funeral?’
SAPS has been branded a ‘laughing stock’ following their salute which was captured on live television. Muhlezi Ntombela tweeted: ‘How do they even catch criminals if they cannot collaborate a simple march away from the coffin at the scene of their comrade’s funeral?’
The officers, which are pictured standing proudly to attention, made an ‘unfortunate mistake’ which is ‘highly regrettable’, according to a spokesman. Meanwhile the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union claimed they ‘failed’ and should do refresher courses
Gift Makhubo said: ‘When you look at the rows and rows of medals that are on their chest you have to wonder what they earned them before if they can’t even march properly!’
Dr Maponya, 99, died after a short illness and was hailed as a black business legend who managed to build a business empire during apartheid and worked tirelessly to create jobs for black people.
President Ramaphosa praised him at the funeral at West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg saying: ‘He did not hoard the gains he made in business but ploughed them back into the community.’
Dr Maponya (pictured with Sir Richard Branson in 2011), 99, died after a short illness and was hailed as a black business legend who managed to build a business empire during apartheid
South African Policing Union spokesperson Oscar Skommere said the police had been shown up as a ‘laughing stock’ on live TV and said that those responsible should be held accountable.
A Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union spokesman said: ‘These are high ranking officials who failed to do a basic drilling order for such a high profile event which is very embarrassing.
‘We cannot blame it on fatigue or overwork because they are doing nothing but sitting in their air conditioned offices fighting for positions and should do refresher courses.’