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The South African Department of Defence and Military Veterans on Friday announced an investigation into accusations that officials failed to follow President Cyril Ramaphosa’s instructions on Iran’s role in a multinational naval exercise.
The ministry, led by Defence Minister Angie Motshekga, said its authorized Board of Inquiry must establish what occurred and submit a report within seven days of the exercise’s completion.
South Africa hosted multinational naval drills in its coastal waters from January 9 to 16. A government release described the drills–part of a program called Will for Peace 2026–as a China-led exercise involving “BRICS Plus” navies. The exercise was framed as a maritime safety and interoperability operation under a theme titled “Joint Actions to Ensure the Safety of Shipping and Maritime Economic Activities.”
The investigation follows reports that officials received instructions to limit Iranian warships to observer status to avoid increasing tensions with the US, but failed to effectively implement the orders. Uncertainty lingers over whether Iran participated beyond observation, and some accounts claim that while President Ramaphosa sought to have Iran withdraw, three Iranian vessels were seen operating in False Bay during the exercise period.
US officials publicly criticized Iran’s alleged involvement. In an online statement, the US Embassy in South Africa said the reports raised “concern and alarm” and questioned whether South Africa had adhered to limits on Iran’s participation.
The allegations also raise questions about civilian control of the military under South Africa’s constitutional framework. Section 202 of the Constitution provides that the president is commander-in-chief of the defense force and that command must be exercised under presidential authority and in accordance with the defense minister’s directions.
South African courts have previously scrutinized executive action when foreign-policy decisions collide with legal obligations, including when Sudan President Omar al-Bashir left South Africa despite a court order, later prompting a finding that South Africa violated its obligations by failing to arrest him. Courts have also blocked executive action connected to international justice commitments, including an attempt to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) without prior parliamentary approval and an opposition-party bid ahead of a BRICS summit seeking to compel authorities to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin under an ICC warrant.
The ministry, led by Defence Minister Angie Motshekga, said its authorized Board of Inquiry must establish what occurred and submit a report within seven days of the exercise’s completion.
South Africa hosted multinational naval drills in its coastal waters from January 9 to 16. A government release described the drills–part of a program called Will for Peace 2026–as a China-led exercise involving “BRICS Plus” navies. The exercise was framed as a maritime safety and interoperability operation under a theme titled “Joint Actions to Ensure the Safety of Shipping and Maritime Economic Activities.”
The investigation follows reports that officials received instructions to limit Iranian warships to observer status to avoid increasing tensions with the US, but failed to effectively implement the orders. Uncertainty lingers over whether Iran participated beyond observation, and some accounts claim that while President Ramaphosa sought to have Iran withdraw, three Iranian vessels were seen operating in False Bay during the exercise period.
US officials publicly criticized Iran’s alleged involvement. In an online statement, the US Embassy in South Africa said the reports raised “concern and alarm” and questioned whether South Africa had adhered to limits on Iran’s participation.
The allegations also raise questions about civilian control of the military under South Africa’s constitutional framework. Section 202 of the Constitution provides that the president is commander-in-chief of the defense force and that command must be exercised under presidential authority and in accordance with the defense minister’s directions.
South African courts have previously scrutinized executive action when foreign-policy decisions collide with legal obligations, including when Sudan President Omar al-Bashir left South Africa despite a court order, later prompting a finding that South Africa violated its obligations by failing to arrest him. Courts have also blocked executive action connected to international justice commitments, including an attempt to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) without prior parliamentary approval and an opposition-party bid ahead of a BRICS summit seeking to compel authorities to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin under an ICC warrant.
The post South Africa probes unauthorized Iran participation in BRICS naval drills appeared first on JURIST - News.
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