- Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia launched the Western Cape Safer Festive Season operations at Nyanga Rugby Stadium
- A video of Cachalia appearing unsure how to respond when uniformed SAPS officers saluted him quickly spread across social media
- The clip drew widespread comments online, with some South Africans poking fun at the Acting Police Minister's awkwardness
Source: Getty Images
Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has spent a decade reporting on South Africa's political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online journalism.
WESTERN CAPE — A video of Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia at a formal police launch event in Nyanga has gone viral, with South Africans poking fun at the minister's apparent unfamiliarity with military protocol.
The footage was captured at Nyanga Rugby Stadium on 21 October 2026, where the Acting Minister officially launched the Western Cape Safer Festive Season operational rollout alongside SAPS National Commissioner Major General Fannie Masemola.
The event included crime-fighting simulations and the handover of approximately 175 new operational vehicles to the South African Police Service.
Professor Cachalia's salute moment sparks online ridicule
The clip showed the 68-year-old minister in a suit walking across the field among uniformed officers in formation. The moment that caught widespread attention was when officers saluted Cachalia, and he appeared uncertain about how to respond.
A TikTok user overlaid the footage with the caption "Sisekakeni 😭" — a Zulu phrase loosely translated as "we are in trouble" — accompanied by a crying emoji, lending the clip a satirical tone that resonated quickly with viewers online.
South Africans shared mixed reactions online
The video drew a wave of commentary on X, with many users questioning the minister's preparation for the event.
@DeevhahD wrote:
"Mr Bean taking his righteous position."
@masurpi said:
"The Minister should have at least practised. It's so embarrassing."
@Evidence_Shongw asked:
"Didn't he get basic training?"
@Thinvest_ offered some defence, writing:
"But he is not a trained policeman; he won't know these protocols. Mchunu and Ramaphosa don't know either."
@YolandaPLK said:
"I'm so embarrassed on his behalf."
@NkweMashamaite commented:
"Mr Bean is so unprepared."
@TshilidziTuwan1 added:
"Yoh, we are in our own different world. A whole minister can't even follow protocol."
SA unimpressed with Acting Minister
Briefly News reported that South Africans were disappointed with the new Acting Minister of Police.
Professor Cachalia was appointed after Senzo Mchunu was placed on special leave by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Social media users were not impressed by the new minister after watching a video of him discussing his new position.
Source: Briefly News
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