The parliamentary Committees on Defence and International Relations and Cooperation plans to engage with Minister Angie Motshekga and Ronald Lamola over comments made by SANDF Chief, General Rudzani Maphwanya during his recent visit to Iran.

This will be after President Cyril Ramaphosa has scheduled a meeting with Maphwanya.

Maphwanya caused a storm last week when it emerged that during a visit to Tehran he pledged “common goals” with Iran and claimed his trip carried “a political message”.

His trip, sanctioned by Motshekga, took place amid tensions between South and the US with President Donald Trump imposing a 30% tariff on South African goods.

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, Dakota Legoete, and the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations, Supra Mahumapelo, noted with concern Maphwanya’s remarks during his visit to Iran.

Legoete and Mahumapelo also noted with alarm that the Department of International Relations and Cooperation has publicly distanced itself from the General’s comments while the Presidency described the visit as “ill advised”.

They said the committees will have a joint meeting to engage with Lamola and Motshekga on the issue. Legoete said it was evident that there was a worrying lack of coordination between defence diplomacy and South Africa’s official foreign policy.

“This disjuncture exposes potential misalignment and cohesion in the country’s approach to international relations,” he said.

Legoete added that the Department of Defence should draw long-term lessons from these events and ensure thorough alignment, going forward.

He further stressed that the committee awaits the outcome of engagements between Ramaphosa in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the SANDF, Motshekga and SANDF leadership.

“These engagements must demonstrate unity, strength and synergy in how South Africa conducts itself on the international stage.”

Legoete reiterated the committee’s stance that “the SANDF must remain a professional and apolitical institution, focusing squarely on its constitutional mandate to safeguard the Republic, while steering away from statements in the political domain”.

Last Thursday, the Presidency said Ramaphosa was unaware about the “ill advised” visit by Maphwanywa to Iran.

Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya stated that Ramaphosa did not sanction Maphwanya’s visit as Motshekga approved the travel.

“As much as the president is the appointing authority and the commander in chief, he does not get involved in supervising the general’s travel. That process sits with the minister. So the President did not know.”

Both the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and Defence have distanced themselves from Maphwanya’s remarks, citing that Ramaphosa and Dirco were custodians of foreign policy.

Magwenya said Ramaphosa will meet Maphwanya within the next week regarding his “ill-advised” trip.

“I can’t say when that meeting will happen, but there will be an engagement between the President and the general. So it’s still early to say what the outcome of that engagement will be.”

He would not comment on the possible consequence for the defence chief amid calls by the DA for him to be hauled before a court martial.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

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