by TINTSWALO BALOYI
JOHANNESBURG – THE remarks attributed to the South African National Defence chief, General Rudzani Maphwanya, pledging his country’s solidarity with Iran, is the latest controversy to South Africa’s delicate foreign policy.
It looks likely to further strain relations between South Africa and the United States, at a time Africa’s largest economy and continental political powerhouse is in need of a resolution to the political and economic standoff with the US government of Donald Trump.
Iran is a sworn rival of the US.
While the US has not explicitly sanctioned South Africa solely for its relationship with Iran, it has expressed concerns and taken actions that could be interpreted as a response to South Africa’s close ties with Iran.
There is therefore widespread concern over remarks attributed to Maphwanya while on a recent bilateral visit to Tehran.
According to Iranian state media, Maphwanya, pledged “common goals” with Iran, endorsing its stance on Gaza, and calling for deeper strategic alignment.
At the meeting with Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, he was quoted as expressed opposition to Israeli actions in Gaza and highlighted “shared ideals” between South Africa’s late ex-president, Nelson Mandela, and Iran’s Imam Khomeini in opposing injustice and discrimination.
“The Republic of South Africa and the Islamic Republic of Iran have common goals. We always stand alongside the oppressed and defenseless people of the world,” Maphwanya.
These remarks have sent shockwaves in South Africa.
This adds to the pressure on President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is already besieged by calls from the opposition and within the coalition government to dismiss errant government officials.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), the largest partner of the formerly dominant African National Congress (ANC) in the coalition government, made the most of the controversy to denounce South Africa’s foreign policy.
“This reckless political freelancing by the Chief of the SANDF is not an isolated incident, it forms part of a wider pattern of foreign policy adventurism that is economically destructive, diplomatically reckless, and dangerously misaligned with South Africa’s national interest,” said Chris Hattingh, DA spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans.
He added, “From alienating key democratic allies to embracing authoritarian regimes under sanctions, this approach is steadily eroding trade, investment, and security partnerships essential to our country’s stability and prosperity.”
Despite being in the same government, ANC and DA differ on foreign policy.
ANC, which has been the ruling party since 1994, until it lost its majority last year, has defended its policy as based on neutrality but there can be no denial its allies include Russia and China as well Palestine, which is under siege from Israel.
Most of these allegiances are contrary to America’s.
The DA is demanding the immediate court-martial of the SANDF chief.
Lerato Ngobeni, Parliamentary Chief Whip of the opposition ActionSA, described Maphwanya’s statements as “another example of a foreign policy conducted like a cheap talk shop, devoid of guiding principles, strategic coherence or accountability.”
ActionSA will write to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence to request an urgent hearing.
The Presidency and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) have both distanced themselves from Maphwanya’s sentiments.
Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson to the president, explained Maphwanya’s visit by saying SANDF was enabled by bilateral and multilateral frameworks to forge ties with other military forces around the world.
The strengthening of professional military-to-military cooperation is encouraged within South Africa’s system of government, which includes joint training drills with other countries, cooperation on peacekeeping and rescue missions during natural disasters.
“However, senior military officers do not engage outside of their military purview and they do not represent the country on foreign policy matters neither are they delegated to perform such functions,” Magwenya said.
– CAJ News
