South Africa’s army chief, General Rudzani Maphwanya, is facing political backlash after reportedly pledging military and political support to Iran during an official visit, prompting the defence department to label his remarks “unfortunate” and the foreign ministry to stress they do not reflect government policy.
President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed he will meet Maphwanya to discuss the “ill-advised” trip, which he said was not sanctioned by his office. His spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said the general should have been “more circumspect” with his comments.
According to Iranian media, Maphwanya told officials in Tehran that South Africa and Iran share common goals, stand “alongside the oppressed,” and reiterated support for Palestinians amid the war in Gaza. He also claimed his visit carried a political message from Ramaphosa’s administration.
Members of South Africa’s governing coalition, including the Democratic Alliance, accused Maphwanya of “reckless grandstanding” and called for him to be court-martialled, saying he crossed from military discussions into foreign policy.
South Africa’s close ties with Iran have long strained relations with the US. Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump cut aid to Pretoria, accusing it of “reinvigorating” links with Tehran and condemning its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
The Institute for Security Studies notes that South Africa’s formal cooperation with Iran began in 1995 with the creation of a joint commission.