There was nothing to indicate who placed them there or why, only confusion, curiosity, and a steadily growing buzz across social media. Even the Johannesburg Metro Police stopped at the scene to see what the commotion was all about.
The unexplained appearance has triggered speculation online, with theories ranging from:
What is happening??? I came across these filing cabinets just sitting on the streets of Sandton. No explanation. No branding. Just vibes. Anyone else seen these? What do you think they mean? �� #Ad pic.twitter.com/9gP5mtLl2T
— Nombini (@zimmie_) February 24, 2026
Local business owners say the cabinets emerged overnight, without warning.
What the helly!!!!There are filing cabinets just sitting on the streets of Sandton. No explanation. No branding. Just vibes. Anyone else seen these? What do you think they mean? #Ad pic.twitter.com/TkuT2l2bqu
— Brucene Riet (@Luzanne_Bee) February 24, 2026
“Why am I invested in filing cabinets right now,” commented another X user.
Radio hosts on 947, Jacaranda, YFM and KayaFM have already begun discussing the installations on air, inviting listeners to share their theories and photos.
"It's the most interesting thing I've seen in Sandton in months," one morning show host commented. "Whatever this is about, someone clearly wants businesspeople to pay attention."
The timing is particularly striking: many South African companies are currently wrestling with digital transformation challenges, data management risks, and legacy systems that slow them down.
Whether this strange appearance is connected to those issues or something else entirely remains unknown.
What do you think the filing cabinets mean?
