Reported remarks by SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Chief, General Rudzani Maphwanya, during a trip to Iran have drawn the ire of two Cabinet ministers and attracted the attention of the force’s commander-in-chief as well as a court martial call.
An interesting aside comes from South Africa’s only four-star general, now in his fourth year of what is generally a five-year term as the military officer heading the country’s armed forces. He put pen to paper – as it were – for the recently published (mid-July) Volume 32, fourth 2025 edition of SA Soldier magazine. In a Message From the Chief piece entitled ‘Staying above politics is part of military discipline’ he, among others, goes on record writing soldiers are not politicians – “we are not commentators, we are soldiers”.
“You,” those under his command can read, “serve the Republic of South Africa, not a party, not a politician and not a personal cause. Our Constitution is clear. The military must remain neutral, apolitical and professional. You may have your private views as a citizen, but as a soldier, your public posture must reflect complete loyalty to the Constitution and support for the Commander-in-Chief [currently Cyril Ramaphosa], regardless of the President’s political affiliation.
“This is not a request. It is doctrine. It is expected… and it will be enforced.”
If what Maphwanya said during and after meeting top Iranian Armed Forces officers in Tehran earlier this week was correctly reported it could add credibility to a court martial call.
This call came from Chris Hattingh, a Democratic Alliance (DA) parliamentary spokesman on defence and military veterans, and was prompted by the general’s reported “political pronouncements in Tehran” as being gross misconduct and “a flagrant breach of the SANDF Code of Conduct”. He maintains what Maphwanya said, if reported accurately, are sufficient grounds for him to be charged under the Military Discipline Supplementary Measures Act with charges related to “dismissal or cashiering”.
“The only appropriate response is an immediate court-martial to restore discipline, reaffirm the SANDF’s apolitical character and send a clear message that no one, regardless of rank, is above the Constitution or the law,” a party statement has Hattingh saying.
The Tehran comments made it to the agenda of this week’s Presidency media briefing led by Vincent Magwenya. He is on record as saying “senior military officers do not engage outside of their military purview and they do not represent the country on foreign policy matters neither are they delegated to perform such functions”.
Magwenya added that “The exchange of knowledge and the strengthening of professional military to military cooperation is encouraged within our system of government; this includes joint training drills with other countries, cooperation on peacekeeping and rescue mission during natural disasters.”
Maphwanya’s visit and his remarks “were not helpful…” when South Africa was “managing a very delicate exercise of resetting diplomatic relations with the United States” and negotiating a mutually-beneficial trade relationship, Magwenya said. “So it is important that we are all aligned in terms of one message coming out of government and we are all aligned on recognising the importance of the diplomatic exercise that is currently under way with the United States and that we ensure that we do not do anything in the process to undermine those relations.”
Some South African media outlets reported post Thursday’s briefing that President Cyril Ramaphosa would meet Maphwanya on an as yet unspecified date.
Maphwanya’s “own” minister, Angie Motshekga (Defence and Military Veterans), as well as International Relations and Co-operation Minister, Ronald Lamola, both – by way of statements distanced themselves, their ministries and departments from the reported Maphwanya statements.
Maphwanya’s visit to Iran was reported to carry “a political message”. Part of this can be interpreted from comments on solidarity with Palestinians where he apparently condemned “the Zionist regime’s bombing of civilians standing in line for food”. The Tehran Times further quotes him saying South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) “aims to hold those responsible for genocide accountable”.
“Engagements” with the SANDF Chief are, apparently, in the offing once the four-star is in South Africa and available. Maphwanya was spotted attending India’s 79th Independence Day celebrations on Friday 15 August, indicating he is indeed back in South Africa.
Apart from the commentariat in the South African media landscape, many of who are vociferous in demanding the Maphwanya’s dismissal, trade union Solidarity and advocacy group, the Amalgamated Veterans of South Africa (AVSA), want an investigation – hopefully – leading to him exiting as SANDF Chief.
Jaco Kleynhans, Head of International Liaison at Solidarity, called on Ramaphosa to dismiss Maphwanya, and to launch an investigation following remarks he made in Iran. “This visit to Iran places South Africa’s relationship with the United States at serious risk and threatens the country’s broader international credibility and trade interests,” Kleynhans said.
“It is unacceptable that South Africa, at a time when our economy urgently needs access to international markets, chooses to strengthen ties with countries such as Iran, which is internationally isolated due to its policies and actions,” said Kleynhans.
Kleynhans warned that the remarks made by the Defence Force Chief during his visit to Iran can potentially be the nail in the coffin of the already fragile relationship between South Africa and the United States. He pointed out that the Trump administration has, in recent months, openly criticised South Africa’s foreign policy, and that there is growing concern among European countries, as well as nations such as Japan, South Korea and Australia, about South Africa’s increasing alignment with anti-Western states such as Iran, Cuba and Venezuela.
“We cannot afford to commit economic suicide by choosing the wrong friends. The United States is one of our largest trading partners, and to embitter this relationship through reckless diplomatic moves is irresponsible,” Kleynhans added.
Defence analyst Dean Wingrin said that the Chief of the SANDF is appointed directly by the President and reflects on him. “The potential damage this has caused to South Africa’s international reputation and economy requires more than a few words or a slap on the wrist.”
@defenceWeb, excluding the headline
