"South Africa's Army Chief Faces Backlash Over Support for Iran"
General Rudzani Maphwanya, South Africa's army chief, has come under fire after reportedly pledging military and political support to Iran during a recent visit to the country. His comments have sparked outrage among members of South Africa's governing coalition, who have accused him of "reckless grandstanding."
President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed he would meet with General Maphwanya to discuss the "ill-advised" trip, which has raised tensions as South Africa navigates its complex relationship with the United States. The US has expressed concerns over South Africa's ties with Iran, among other geopolitical issues.
The Democratic Alliance, a key party in the South African government, has called for General Maphwanya to be "court-martialled," arguing that his remarks transcended military discussions and ventured into the realm of foreign policy.
The general's visit aimed to strengthen military cooperation, but during his meetings with Iranian officials, he stated that South Africa and Iran share common goals and always stand "alongside the oppressed and defenseless people of the world," according to the Iranian publication Tehran Times. He also criticized Israel over the ongoing conflict in Gaza, reiterating support for the Palestinian people and indicating that his visit "carries a political message" from Ramaphosa's administration.
In response to the backlash, the South African government has distanced itself from Maphwanya's comments. The defense department described them as "unfortunate," while the foreign affairs ministry clarified that they "do not represent the government's official foreign policy stance."
Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, stated that the president was unaware of the trip and had not sanctioned it. "The visit was ill-advised, and the expectation is that the general should have been a lot more circumspect with the comments he makes," Magwenya told reporters during a briefing.
General Maphwanya has since returned to South Africa, as confirmed by Magwenya.
South Africa's strong ties with Iran have long been a point of contention with the US and were a contributing factor to the deterioration of relations between the two nations earlier this year. Former US President Donald Trump issued an executive order cutting off aid to South Africa, accusing the country of "reinvigorating" relations with Iran, a staunch adversary of the US.
Trump also made unfounded claims that Ramaphosa's government was persecuting white people and condemned it for pursuing a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
According to the Institute for Security Studies, South Africa's relationship with Iran dates back to 1995, when a joint commission of cooperation was established.
