Ramaphosa Ties Woman's Shoelaces at Denel Aerospace Visit, Video Goes Viral

• President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Denel Aerospace in Kempton Park on 2 September 2026, where a video of him tying a woman's shoelaces caught public attention
• The clip was shared on X with a caption suggesting Ramaphosa deserves another term, drawing hundreds of responses from South Africans
• While some viewers found the gesture endearing, many others dismissed it as a PR stunt and raised concerns about the president's record in office

GAUTENG — A video of President Cyril Ramaphosa kneeling to tie the shoelaces of a woman during an oversight visit to Denel Aerospace in Kempton Park on 2 September 2026 has gone viral on social media, dividing opinion across South Africa.

The clip was posted by X account @pmcafrica, accompanied by the caption:

"Maybe we should consider 🤔 Cupcake deserves another term bethuna 🔥🔥."

The post attracted considerable engagement, with users debating whether the moment reflected genuine character or was a calculated image-building exercise.

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Ramaphosa's Denel aerospace oversight visit

The president's visit to Denel Aerospace forms part of a commitment he made at the 2024 Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) show and was aimed at assessing the state-owned enterprise's capabilities and its contribution to South Africa's defence industry and national security.

Ramaphosa was received at the facility by Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga and Denel Aerospace Group Executive Chris Boshoff. Denel Aerospace provides aviation solutions including maintenance, repair and overhaul services, upgrades, and systems integration. The company is also the original equipment manufacturer of the Rooivalk Combat Support Helicopter and serves as Design Authority for the Oryx Medium Transport Helicopter. The woman whose shoelaces Ramaphosa tied has been identified as the newly appointed interim chairperson of Denel's Board of Chairpersons.

View the video on X here:

South Africans react to the viral clip

The video prompted a sharp split in public sentiment online. Supporters argued the gesture demonstrated humility, while critics were quick to reframe it.

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@lunga_Mzimba wrote:

"You're very gullible, just one PR stunt and you're in love 😂"

@thebonganilife said:

"Cupcake definitely doesn't deserve another term. I don't even want to write here what I think he deserves. South Africans deserve a president who actually does what he says he's going to and puts their needs before anything else."

@TumeloNkoane28 remarked:

"The only thing he needs to tighten is law and order in this country."

@JustTulanicommented:

"I was gonna understand until I saw that lady who ruined basic education but still got a promotion to defend our country."

@angel_jons added:

"If only he wasn't affiliated with any political party. Definitely, yes."

Watch the moment Ramaphosa ties the shoelaces at Denel Aerospace: [See the viral clip here](https://x.com/pmcafrica/status/2096864751800172866?s=46&t=BX6HfVuaRHZugGlL_Tkaew)

Cyril Ramaphosa meets with Brent Bozell III

In a related article, Briefly News reported on Ramaphosa's formal bilateral meeting with US Ambassador Brent Bozell III, aimed at strengthening relations between South Africa and the United States amid ongoing diplomatic tensions. This unusual engagement has triggered widespread online debate, with many South Africans questioning the appropriateness of a Head of State meeting directly with an ambassador instead of a fellow leader.

Source: Briefly News