South African News

Parliamentary committees to meet over SANDF chief's controversial Iran visit

IOL Reporter|Published

General Rudzani Maphwanya has come under fire for his recent comments.

Image: Jaques Naude

The recent visit by General Rudzani Maphwanya, Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), to Iran has ignited significant debate among key parliamentary figures.

Dakota Legoete, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, and  Supra Mahumapelo, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations, have publicly expressed their concern regarding comments made by the General during his trip.

This situation has been further complicated by a swift public statement from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, which sought to distance itself from Maphwanya's unsettling remarks.

The Presidency also weighed in, labelling the visit as “ill-advised.” This divergence of opinions from various government factions indicates a worrying disconnection between South Africa's defence diplomacy and its officially stated foreign policy.

“It is evident that there is a worrying lack of coordination between defence diplomacy and South Africa’s official foreign policy,” Legoete commented, highlighting the potential risks posed by this misalignment.

He emphasised the necessity for the Department of Defence to learn from these incidents as they move forward, advocating for a cohesive approach in international relations.

The Portfolio Committees announced plans for a joint meeting to engage directly with the ministers from both the Department of Defence and Military Veterans, along with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

Legoete underscored the importance of these discussions, urging that they should exhibit “unity, strength and synergy” in how South Africa presents itself on the global stage.

Moreover, Legoete reiterated the imperative for the SANDF to maintain its professional integrity and political neutrality, urging the force to focus on its constitutional mandate of safeguarding the Republic rather than venturing into the political arena.

The upcoming discussions are anticipated to address how to better align the country’s military and diplomatic initiatives moving forward.

IOL