JUST IN: Motshekga appoints board of inquiry to probe if order for Iran’s naval drill exit was flouted

Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga. Picture: File As Iran’s controversial participation in the sea phase of the naval exercise comes under the spotlight, Defence Minister Angie Motshekga says she has relayed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s instructions regarding military exercises in False Bay and has appointed a board of inquiry to establish if they were ignored. The presence of three Iranian warships off False Bayhas drawn international attention to South Africa, particularly from the United States (USA), raising concerns about political costs for the country.

“The Minister of Defence, Hon. Angie Motshekga, would like to place it on record that the instruction was clearly communicated to all parties concerned, agreed upon and to be implemented and adhered to as such,” a statement from the ministry read. “Due to the seriousness of these allegations and reports in the media, the minister has established a board of inquiry to look into the circumstances surrounding the allegations and establish whether the instruction of the president may have been misrepresented and/or ignored as issued to all.” Motshekga said she had given the board seven days after the end of the joint naval exercises, formally headed by China, to furnish her with a report on what had transpired.

“Furthermore, it can be further stated that all government entities in this event have been working very closely, in consultation with each other at every step.” A government source earlier confirmed that Iran had been asked to withdraw from the drills, only for the SANDF to later post a now-deleted Facebook statement saying the Iranian corvette Naghdi participated in the sea-phase exercise. Meanwhile, the US Embassy in South Africa has slammed Pretoriafor supporting Iran while it cracks down on anti-government protesters by allowing Iranian warships into South African waters of False Bay in Cape Town for the naval exercises, which also include Russia and China. In a post on X, the US Embassy in South Africa expressed concern about South Africa’s decision to allow Iran to participate in naval exercises.