8 September 2025
President Cyril Ramaphosa and South African National Defence Force (SANDF) chief General Rudzani Maphwanya met privately this week, but the public remains in the dark about what was discussed.
The meeting, initiated by Ramaphosa himself, was highly anticipated, given the controversy surrounding General Maphwanya’s recent sanctioned visit to Iran.
General Maphwanya travelled to Iran in August, where he reportedly made statements supporting enhanced military ties with Tehran and criticising Israel’s actions in Gaza.
These comments sparked a storm of criticism back home – notably from International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola and the Presidency – who argued that the SANDF Chief had overstepped his bounds by engaging in foreign policy matters traditionally reserved for elected officials.
President Ramaphosa’s office has clarified that the President was neither informed of nor approved of Maphwanya’s trip to Iran.
Instead, authorization came from Minister Angie Motshekga, whose portfolio includes oversight of the Defence Force.
At the time, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya described Maphwanya’s remarks as “unhelpful,” particularly given South Africa’s delicate efforts to reset diplomatic relations with the United States amid US-Iran tensions.
Despite the nature of the meeting between Ramaphosa and Maphwanya, details of their discussion remain undisclosed.
Source:IOL
