By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
SA National Defence Force (SANDF) has established a Board of Inquiry (BOI) to investigate the directive to withdraw three Iranian warships from the Multinational Naval Exercise Will for Peace taking place in False Bay.
President Cyril Ramaphosa decided at the weekend that Iran should withdraw its three warships from the multinational naval exercise.
Ramaphosa was clearly concerned about the damage Iran’s participation could do to South African relations with the United States, at a time when the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) was making its way through Congress, and while negative US and international attention on Iran was unusually high because of widespread protests against the government, and the government’s lethal response.
Fullview leant that Ramaphosa had instructed Defence Minister Angie Motshekga to withdraw Iran’s participation in the naval exercise.
On Tuesday, The Iranian corvette IRIS Naghdi appeared to have sailed out to sea with warships of the other participating countries – South Africa, China, Russia and the United Arab Emirates – to take part in the exercise.
The SANDF posted a statement on its Facebook page on Tuesday, saying naval vessels had left Simon’s Town for the sea phase of the exercise.
“The four naval vessels forming part of the exercise consist of the United Arab Emirates corvette, Bani Yas, Russian corvette, Stoikiy, South African frigate, SAS Amatola, Iranian corvette, Naghi and Chinese destroyer, Tangshan,” the SANDF said, counting four ships, but actually listing five.
It added: “Other participants such as the Ethiopian, Egyptian and Indonesian [navies] will serve as observers during the course of the exercise.”
Mysteriously, this notice was later deleted from the SANDF’s Facebook page.
On Friday, 16 January, Siphiwe Dlamini, Head of Communication in the Department of Defence, stated that Motshekga would like to place it on record that the instruction on Iran’s participation from the President “on how Exercise Will for Peace 2026 should be conducted” was clearly communicated to all parties concerned, agreed upon and to be implemented and adhered to as such.
Due to the allegations and reports in the media that Iran continued to participate, “the Minister has established a Board of Inquiry (BOI) 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.”
Dlamini stated the BOI must establish all the facts on what took place during the Exercise and table to the Minister in 7 days a report after the completion of the Exercise.
South Africa is under pressure not to raise the ire of the United States by including Iran in the BRICS Plus naval exercise at a time when the US is renegotiating Agoa, and protests are underway in Iran.
The United States Embassy in South Africa has said allowing Iranian forces to operate in South African waters is a sign of South Africa choosing to stand with a regime that brutally represses its people and engages in terrorism.
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. Iran is a destabilising actor and state sponsor of terror, and its inclusion in joint exercises – in any capacity – undermines maritime security and regional stability,” the US Embassy said.
“It is particularly unconscionable that South Africa welcomed Iranian security forces as they were shooting, jailing, and torturing Iranian citizens engaging in peaceful political activity South Africans fought so hard to gain for themselves. South Africa can’t lecture the world on ‘justice’ while cozying up to Iran.”
2 500 people are estimated to have been killed in recent protests in Iran. On 15 January, the South African Presidency said the government is following the developments in Iran with concern.
“The reports of unrest and the subsequent loss of life are concerning, and South Africa urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint. South Africa firmly believes that the right to peaceful protest, freedom of expression, and freedom of association are universal human rights that must be upheld without exception. We therefore call on the Iranian authorities to ensure that citizens exercise their right to protest in peace. Sustainable peace and stability can only be achieved through solutions that centre the agency of the Iranian people,” the Presidency said.
Iran has sent three vessels to take part in Will for Peace: the Bayandor-class corvette Naghdi (82), the forward base ship Makran (441), carrying an AB-212 ASW helicopter, and expeditionary base ship Shahid Mahdavi (110-3).
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) National Chairperson and Chief Whip Nontando Nolutshungu wrote to Motshekga to express “profound outrage and deep concern regarding persistent reports that Ramaphosa has demanded the withdrawal of the Iranian Navy from the BRICS joint naval exercises…this demand, purportedly driven by a craven fear of retaliation from the imperialist and fascist United States of America, represents a shameful capitulation that undermines our nation’s sovereignty and international standing.”
Nolutshungu also criticised Motshekga and the SANDF for the lack of communication regarding the exercise. Failure to provide answers will “only compound the perception of incompetence and complicity in this fiasco.”
Will for Peace 2026 officially launched on Saturday 10 January, with an Opening Parade at Naval Base Simon’s Town. The sea phase got underway on 13 January and concluded on the 15th.