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Parachutist who crashed into pole at Ramaphosa's inauguration not critically injured

Moments before the parachute driver's botched landing at the presidential inauguration.
Moments before the parachute driver's botched landing at the presidential inauguration.
Image: Twitter / Ranjeni Munusamy

The SA National Defence Force (SANDF) on Sunday warned against "inaccurate news" on social media after a parachutist crashed into a pole during the presidential inauguration at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday.

"The reports on social media platforms that the member is in [an] intensive care unit are not true," the SANDF said in a statement.

"The SANDF can confirm that the member received medical attention at the stadium and [was] released. The SANDF once again would like to caution the public not to spread incorrect and irresponsible information," said Brigadier-General Mafi Mgobozi.

Video clips of the botched landing went viral on social media, showing the parachutist hitting what seemed to be a pole, but then getting up with no obvious signs of injuries.

A member of the South African National Defence Force's sky diving free-fall team crashed into a poll during the Presidential Inauguration. CORRECTION: (0:02) Poll-Pole Subscribe to TimesLIVE here: https://www.youtube.com/user/TimesLive

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