US seeks answers from SA on Iran stance amid military chief controversy

SANDF

Cape Town – The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) confirmed that its army chief, General Rudzani Maphwanya, has submitted a report to Defence Minister Angie Motshekga following his controversial visit to Iran.

Maphwanya drew criticism after praising Iran and condemning Israel during the trip, with his remarks reported by Iranian state media.

The defence ministry distanced itself from his comments, stressing they were not South Africa’s official position.

In a statement, SANDF said on Wednesday that Maphwanya’s visit was authorised and included bilateral talks with Iranian officials.

“The official visit was scheduled to take place in 2024, but was postponed to 2025. Authority was granted by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans for the Chief of the SANDF to honour the invitation.

“It can be confirmed that the Minister and the Chief of the SANDF have spoken upon his return. The department wishes to state further that upon his return from the visit, the Chief of the SANDF gave a report to the Minister, in view of the public interest related to the visit as it has been reported in various media,” read the statement.

The US has since requested clarity on South Africa’s stance toward Iran.

Analysts noted that, regardless of his statements, the visit itself carried political weight.

“The important thing here is to understand that the military is an apolitical organisation, but the military can never be unpolitical, and this is a textbook example of the military that is not unpolitical,” Stellenbosch University’s Professor Abel Esterhuyse said during an interview with Newzroom Afrika.


“Without the controversy about what the chief has said or not said in Iran, the mere fact that the South African Defence Force is visiting Iran is conveying a political message. It is a political statement. So one has to understand that whatever the military is doing in the name of policy is of a political nature, and the chief of the South African Defence Force visiting Iran is, by implication, a political act,” Esterhuyse said.

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