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South Africa’s army chief, General Rudzani Maphwanya, is facing sharp criticism after reportedly pledging military and political support to Iran during a recent visit to the country.
Members of the governing coalition accused him of “reckless grandstanding,” while President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed he would meet the general to discuss what he called an “ill-advised” trip. The row comes amid already tense relations between South Africa and the United States, which has long objected to Pretoria’s close ties with Tehran.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), part of South Africa’s coalition government, went further, calling for Gen Maphwanya to be court-martialled. The party said his remarks “went beyond military-to-military discussions and entered the realm of foreign policy.”
According to Iranian state media, Gen Maphwanya told his hosts that South Africa and Iran shared common goals and “always stand alongside the oppressed and defenceless people of the world.” He also criticised Israel over the war in Gaza, reiterated support for the Palestinian cause, and claimed his visit carried a “political message” from the Ramaphosa administration.
Both South Africa’s defence department and foreign ministry have distanced themselves from the comments, saying they do not reflect official policy. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, told reporters the president was unaware of the visit and had not authorised it, adding: “The general should have been a lot more circumspect with the comments he makes.”
Gen Maphwanya has since returned to South Africa. His visit has renewed debate over Pretoria’s ties with Iran, which date back to 1995 and have repeatedly strained relations with Washington. Earlier this year, the US accused South Africa of “reinvigorating” its alliance with Tehran — one of the reasons for a sharp downturn in bilateral relations.
