SOUTH Africa’s Defence Minister Angie Motshekga has appointed a board of inquiry to investigate whether the South African National Defence Force ignored direct orders from President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding Iranian participation in naval exercises off Cape Town’s False Bay, triggering a political scandal that has drawn sharp international criticism.
The inquiry, which has been given seven days after the exercises conclude to report its findings, will examine allegations that the SANDF proceeded with Iran’s involvement in the sea phase of joint naval drills despite presidential instructions to exclude the Islamic Republic from active participation.
The controversy centres on the presence of three Iranian warships, including the corvette Naghdi, which participated in exercises alongside vessels from China and Russia. According to government sources, Iran had been asked to withdraw from the drills, yet the SANDF posted a Facebook statement confirming Iranian participation before deleting it.
“Due to the seriousness of these allegations and reports in the media, the minister has established a board of inquiry to look into the circumstances surrounding the allegations and establish whether the instruction of the president may have been misrepresented and/or ignored as issued to all,” the Defence Ministry stated.
The inquiry carries significant implications for South Africa’s military leadership. If investigators determine that presidential orders were deliberately disregarded, the head of the SANDF could face disciplinary action or removal, marking one of the most serious civil-military crises in post-apartheid South Africa.
Motshekga emphasised that Ramaphosa’s instructions had been clearly communicated to all parties and were meant to be implemented without deviation. The minister said all government entities involved in the exercises had been working in close consultation throughout the event.
International Backlash
The Iranian naval presence has provoked a fierce response from the United States, with the US Embassy in Pretoria issuing an unusually direct rebuke of South African foreign policy.
“The United States notes with concern and alarm reports that the Minister of Defence and SANDF defied a government order regarding Iran’s participation in the ongoing naval exercises,” the embassy said in a statement posted on social media.
The embassy characterised Iran as a destabilising actor and state sponsor of terrorism, arguing that its inclusion in joint exercises undermines maritime security and regional stability.
In particularly pointed language, the US mission said it was unconscionable for South Africa to welcome Iranian security forces while those same forces were shooting, jailing and torturing Iranian citizens engaged in peaceful political activity.
“South Africa can’t lecture the world on ‘justice’ while cosying up to Iran,” the embassy declared, adding that permitting Iranian military forces to operate in South African waters was not non-alignment but rather choosing to stand with a repressive regime.
Economic Concerns
Defence analyst Helmoed-Römer Heitman warned that the controversy risks damaging South Africa’s relations with key trading partners in Europe and the United States, while Iran faces minimal consequences from the diplomatic fallout.
The exercises, formally headed by China, were scheduled to end on Friday. The inquiry’s findings are expected within a week of that conclusion, potentially setting up a constitutional confrontation if evidence emerges that military commanders acted against explicit presidential directives.
The scandal has thrust South Africa’s delicate balancing act between Western allies and partners like China, Russia and Iran into sharp relief, with domestic political ramifications that could extend well beyond the Defence Force leadership.
