Ramaphosa unaware of SANDF chief's controversial Iran visit

The Presidency on Thursday night said President Cyril Ramaphosa was unaware of the “ill-advised” visit by South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Chief Rudzani Maphwanywa to Iran.

Addressing the media, Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said Ramaphosa did not sanction Maphwanya’s visit.

He stated that it was Defence Minister Angie Motshekga, not Ramaphosa, who approved Maphwanya’s travel.

“As much as the president is the appointing authority and the commander-in-chief, he does not get involved in supervising the general’s travel. That process sits with the minister. So the president did not know.”

Maphwanya was quoted by Iranian media as pledging “common goals” with Iran and said his trip carried “a political message”.

Magwenya said there was a concern about Maphwanya’s trip.

“At this period of heightened geopolitical tensions as well as conflict in the Middle East, one can say the visit was ill advised and more so the expectation is that the general should have been a lot more circumspect with the comments he makes, which delve into the area of foreign policy that only the president, as well as the Department of International Relations, are responsible for.”

Maphwanya’s trip took place amid tensions between South Africa and the US President Donald Trump imposed 30% tariffs on South African goods, which were implemented this month.

Magwenya said South Africa was in a process of resetting diplomatic and political relations with the United States, as well as balancing the trade relationship in a mutually beneficial manner between the two countries.

“Of resolving the relationship or resolving issues around the relationship with the US, you then have senior government or military officials in statements that will further inflame the situation. It is not helpful at all,” he said.

Both the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and the Defence have distanced themselves from Maphwanya’s remarks, citing that Ramaphosa and DIRCO were custodians of foreign policy.

Magwenya said Ramaphosa will meet Maphwanya within the next week regarding his “ill-advised” trip.

“I can't say when that meeting will happen, but there will be an engagement between the president and the general. So it's still early to say what the outcome of that engagement will be.”

He would not comment on the possible consequence, if there was to be any, for the defence’s chief amid calls by the DA for him to be hauled before a court martial.

“It is also difficult to speak to. One must consider what constitutes the grave nature of charges or accusations that would require a court-martial,” Magwenya said.

Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa told Newzroom Afrika that he was unaware of the visit.

“I don’t know what the purpose of his visit was. It is only the minister who will be in the know. If he did not ask for permission to leave from the minister, then he will have to swim in his stew,” he said.

Holomisa also said such visits outside the country were authorised by Motshekga.

“The last word has been said by the Presidency, and the Presidency is the custodian of our foreign policy. There is nothing one can contest on that, but what we should be waiting for is either to hear the minister herself addressing this issue or alternatively wait for General Maphwanya to come back and tell the nation how he went there, what was the purpose.”

He said since the matter was in the open, Maphwanya should be allowed to respond openly and be transparent about it.

Holomisa added that it was too early to say what would happen to Maphwanya.

“If he went abroad without permission from the president or the minister, he will have to face the music and explain on what basis he had to utter such words, which are creating controversy,” he said.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za