SANDF says ‘Vaal President’ will face the law over birthday poster

SANDF distanced itself from the ‘Vaal President’s’ event and said the perpetrator will face the full might of the law for impersonating a member of the army.

SANDF intends to go after a man who promoted his birthday event in military uniform. Photo: Facebook.

A shocked South African National Defence Force (SANDF) took to social media to distance itself from a clearly-photoshopped flyer for a birthday party in Vaal, Gauteng, in a statement on Monday, 12 September.

ALARMED SANDF DISTANCES ITSELF FROM BIRTHDAY PARTY

“SANDF is alarmed at a social media photo of a person in the full uniform of the defence advertising his birthday party, which will take place at a venue in the Vaal,” read the statement.

In the post, the birthday boy – referred to as the ‘Vaal President’ – dons what appears to be the uniform of the Chief of the SANDF along with epaulettes and medals. The event was scheduled for Saturday, 10 September, according to the promotional posters.

The defence force took the opportunity to warn members of the public that it is a criminal offence to be in possession of SANDF uniform or related artefacts and stated that “it is not in any way, shape or form associated with this event.”

The outgoing Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), General Solly Shoke and new SANDF Chief, General Rudzani Maphwanya at Pretoria Military Sports Club in Thaba Tshwane, Pretoria. Photo: GCIS.

President Cyril Ramaphosa and the new South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Chief, General Rudzani Maphwanya at Pretoria Military Sports Club in Thaba Tshwane, Pretoria. Photo: GCIS.

The ‘Vaal President’ seems to have landed in more trouble than he could possibly have imagined. The Chief of the military condemned his impersonation as irresponsible and vowed that the matter would be pursued further. “…the perpetrator will have to face the full might of the law.”

About an hour after SANDF issued the statement, the implicated individual took to his Facebook page to express his disbelief about possibly facing criminal charges over a photoshopped image.

In November 2020, the military police arrested a shop owner who allegedly sold military uniforms in the Vaal area. It also caught wind of the situation through social media at the time.

The shop owner was accused of selling various garments including shirts, trousers and shorts covered in military camouflage.

In May 2020, the Pretoria Regional Court sentenced Irvin Thapelo Mokgosi to five years imprisonment for falsely representing himself as a member of SANDF and possessing and/or wearing a military uniform with distinctive marks without authority from the powers that be.

Earlier that year, former Bloemfontein Celtic midfielder, Tebogo Potsane, was wrapped over the knuckles after he impersonated a SANDF member in video hours before the first COVID-19 lockdown in March.

Social media posts claimed the midfielder was arrested and fined R10 000. The club, however, rubbished the claims and said the player was merely given a warning.

“He was not arrested and never had to pay a fine of R10,000. He is at home as we speak. We met and he was given a warning,” said Bloem Celtic spokesperson Sello Nduna to Lesedi FM. Nduna said Potsane apologised for the video. The uniform reportedly belonged to a friend.

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