By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to meet with SANDF chief Rudzani Maphwanya to discuss his visit to Iran and the consequences for the general.
This comes after Iranian state media reported that Maphwanya made political and policy statements while visiting the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The meeting in Iran comes amid tensions between Pretoria and Washington, after months of worsening diplomatic relations between South Africa and the US.
After US President Donald Trump’s 30% tariff on South African goods came into effect earlier this month, Pretoria proposed a revised trade offer to US trade representatives in the hopes that it would mollify the transactional Trump.
In June, tensions escalated between the US and Iran after the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites at Israel’s behest.
Pretoria is working to improve its rock-bottom ties with Washington, with the aim of reaching a new trade deal that will avoid 30 percent tariffs on its exports.
“We are in a process of managing a very delicate exercise of resetting diplomatic relations with the United States,” Ramaphosa’s spokesman Vincent Magwenya said at a media briefing.
During these negotiations, it was “not helpful” to have “senior government or military officials making statements that will inflame the situation,” Magwenya said.
“At this period of heightened geopolitical tensions as well as conflict in the Middle East, one can say the visit was ill-advised,”Magwenya said, adding that Ramaphosa had not been aware of the visit.
Magwenya said the government encouraged professional military-to-military cooperation between the SANDF and foreign militaries, but stressed that military officers “do not represent the country on foreign policy matters”.
The Democratic Alliance, the second-largest group in the government of national unity, has demanded that Maphwanya be court-martialed for “breaching military neutrality.”
He was asked whether Maphwanya would suffer any consequences for his remarks and, in particular, to comment on the DA’s demand that he should be court-martialled.
Magwenya said he could not comment on possible consequences. But Ramaphosa would meet Maphwanya, “so it’s still early to say what the outcome of the engagement will be.”
“And with respect to DA calls for a court martial, it’s also difficult to speak to. One will have to look at really what constitutes the sort of … charges or accusations that would require a court martial.”
In remarks attributed to him by the Iranian media, Maphwanya “conveyed greetings from South Africa’s president and defence minister and affirmed, “The Republic of South Africa and the Islamic Republic of Iran have common goals. We always stand alongside the oppressed and defenceless people of the world.”
He was also quoted as expressing solidarity with Palestinians, condemning Israel for bombing civilians queuing for food and calling for deeper cooperation with Iran, especially in defence.
Shifting to the National Dialogue’s first national convention, which begins on Friday, Magwenya said it aims to re-energise communities, develop action plans, and promote mutual accountability and democracy.
“The dialogue presents an opportunity to forge a national compact that outlines clear commitments and responsibilities for various stakeholders,” Magwenya said.
The spokesperson said the convention will be inclusive, with close to 1 000 confirmed delegates representing various sectors of society.
“The credibility of the National Dialogue is going to be the level of participation across communities and what is going to come out of that process as outcomes. And that credibility cannot be determined by one person. Neither can it be determined by seven organisations,” Magwenya said.
He was also asked about Ramaphosa’s relationship with former president Thabo Mbeki, to which Magwenya said the relationship is professional and cordial, with Ramaphosa not venturing into public criticism of his predecessor.