Military experts have suggested that Defence Minister Angie Motshekga, along with all the top officers implicated in the Iran naval drill fiasco, should face the music. Who are the major players in this mess? The board of inquiry into the failure to withdraw Iran from the maritime exercise Will for Peace last week should establish who disobeyed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s instructions or review the SA National Defence Force’s (SANDF’s) power to decide, on its own, in future, which countries participate in such joint naval drills.
He told Daily Maverick, “The instruction from the President and the subsequent discussions that followed, and the agreement with all concerned parties was that Iran was no longer going to participate in the drills. “The board of inquiry will, therefore, look at what transpired from the time the instruction was given by the President via the minister [of defence] to the time the exercise started. “The minister of defence will present the report of her board of inquiry to the President.
Based on that report, appropriate steps will be taken either against individuals or a review of processes will follow. We will have to wait for the board of inquiry report for a clear way forward,” Magwenya continued. Russia, China, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and Iran actively participated in the exercise off Simon’s Town, from 9 to 16 January, with some other nations of the BRICS+ group observing.
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Ramaphosa ordered Iran’s withdrawal from the exercise on 9 January, after reportedly being alerted by the US embassy about how badly Iran’s participation would be viewed in Washington, at a time when Tehran was brutally suppressing protests and legislation to renew the Agoa trade agreement was going through Congress. However, the three Iranian vessels — a corvette and two support ships — continued to participate in the exercise through to the end. Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga hassince ordered a board of inquiryto establish why Ramaphosa’s instructions were not obeyed.
She said the board would have just seven days to report back to her on its findings. SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini toldBloombergon Monday that officials would meet that afternoon to decide on arrangements for the board, such as when it would start. He was adamant that the board’s report and findings would be made public “as this issue is most definitely in the public interest”.
Military expertshave suggestedthat Motshekga, along with all the top officers implicated in this naval drill fiasco, should face the music. Who are the major players in this particular mess?
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