Why is the South African Army Chief Facing Criticism for His Visit to Iran?

SadaNews - Calls for the dismissal of General Rudzani Maphwanya, the Army Chief in South Africa, have intensified following controversial statements he made during an official visit to Iran, at a time when Pretoria is trying to negotiate with U.S. President Donald Trump to ease the tariffs imposed on its exports.

These statements, which suggest that there are common military objectives between Iran and South Africa, come amidst rising tensions in relations between Pretoria and Washington, prompting analysts to warn that this step could complicate matters further.

Last week, a 30% tariff on South African goods exported to the United States came into effect, raising concerns among business owners, despite President Cyril Ramaphosa's efforts to appease Trump, including leading a delegation to the White House last May.

What did General Maphwanya say in Iran?

During his meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Major General Seyed Abdolrahim Mousavi, in Tehran, Maphwanya was quoted by "Press TV" and "Tehran Times" as stating that the two countries share close relations.

According to a report by "Press TV", Commander Maphwanya pointed to "the historical support that Iran provided for South Africa's struggle against apartheid", asserting that these ties have created a lasting relationship between the two countries.

"Tehran Times" added that Maphwanya stated, "The Republic of South Africa and the Islamic Republic of Iran have common goals. We always stand by oppressed peoples around the world".

The general also condemned, according to the newspaper, "Israel’s bombing of civilians waiting for food" and "its ongoing aggression in the occupied West Bank", noting that his visit "carries a political message" and comes "at the right time to express our sincere feelings towards the peace-loving Iranian people".

For his part, General Mousavi praised South Africa's lawsuit against "the Zionist regime" before the International Court of Justice, considering it in line with Iran's policies, according to "Press TV".

Mousavi also condemned the U.S. and Israeli military and economic actions against Iran, describing them as "violations of international laws and norms", adding that the Iranian army is ready to "respond decisively if aggression is renewed".

How did the South African government respond?

The South African presidency clarified on Thursday that President Ramaphosa was not aware of General Maphwanya's visit to Iran, indicating that such visits are usually authorized by the Department of Defense.

Ramaphosa appointed Maphwanya as army chief in 2021. Maphwanya served in the army wing of the African National Congress during the apartheid era, which maintained parliamentary majority until 2024.

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya stated at a press conference that the timing of the visit was "poor".

He added, "In light of the escalating geopolitical tensions and the conflict in the Middle East, it can be said that the visit was not appropriate, and the general should have been more cautious in his statements".

The spokesperson remarked, "We are at a critical stage of resetting political relations with the United States. More importantly, ensuring a balance in the trade relationship that serves both parties".

The Departments of International Relations and Defense distanced themselves from the statements attributed to the army chief, with the Department of Defense stating, "It is unfortunate that political and directive statements have been issued... and Defense and Veterans Affairs Minister Thandi Modise will hold General Maphwanya accountable upon his return".

In this context, the "Democratic Alliance", one of the four parties in the coalition government, demanded that the general be tried before a military court on charges of "serious misconduct and a blatant violation of the South African National Defense Forces code of conduct".

The party's statement said, "According to the Iranian media, General Maphwanya exceeded his constitutional and professional powers, committing to common goals with Iran, supporting its position on Gaza, and calling for deepening strategic coordination".

The party added that "such political statements are explicitly prohibited for active officers, violate the principle of political neutrality, and undermine the principle of civilian control over the army".

Why did the statements spark this controversy?

Relations between the United States and South Africa are undergoing their worst phase in decades, especially following the 12-day war in June between Iran and the U.S.-Israeli coalition.

Trump imposed a 30% tariff on South African goods last April as part of a series of reciprocal trade wars.

The United States is a crucial market for South African automobiles, precious metals, and wine.

One of the main reasons for Trump's anger towards Pretoria is its genocide lawsuit against Israel before the International Court of Justice, as well as its bolstering relations with Iran.

Trump also falsely claimed that whites in South Africa are persecuted under the majority black rule led by the African National Congress, accusing the government of seizing white land.

Whites represent a wealthy minority in South Africa, most of whom are descendants of Dutch settlers. Afrikaner governments maintained an apartheid system until 1990.

Whites still control the nation's wealth, especially land.

Recently, extremist Afrikaner groups have claimed that whites are targeted by blacks, citing incidents of violence against white farmers.

Elon Musk, a former Trump advisor, also alleged that whites are being persecuted, accusing South African business laws of hindering his internet company's operations due to partial black ownership requirements.

The South African government has denied these allegations, yet the Trump administration welcomed 59 "white refugees" last May as part of a resettlement program.

The Biden administration had previously clashed with South Africa over its close relationships with Russia and its public criticisms of Israel.

Analysts recall the 2022 scandal when a sanctioned Russian cargo ship docked at the Simon's Town naval base amid U.S. allegations that South African military equipment had been loaded onto it for use in the Ukraine war, allegations that Pretoria denied.

Chris Vandome, an analyst at Chatham House, stated that "the problem lies in the formation of South Africa's foreign policy, the lack of clarity and consistency, which creates confusion over whether the statements reflect the state's position".

How did South Africa try to appease the United States?

On May 21, Ramaphosa led a delegation to the White House in an attempt to "reset relations" with Trump, hoping to reach better trade agreements.

However, the meeting was tense, as Trump refused to back down from his claims about white persecution, despite Ramaphosa clarifying that the country suffers from crime broadly, with no evidence of targeting whites specifically.

South Africa offered to purchase U.S. liquefied natural gas and invest $3.3 billion in U.S. industries in exchange for tariff reductions, and agreed to review business ownership laws.

Nevertheless, tariffs came into effect last week, threatening about 30,000 jobs in the manufacturing and agriculture sectors, according to analysts.

Ramaphosa's government promised to take further measures to alleviate burdens on exporters.

Trade Minister Ebrahim Patel said on Tuesday that the country proposed a new proposal to Washington, without revealing its details.

In this context, security analyst Jackie Cele said to South Africa's official television, that "the army chief's statements at this sensitive time are a highly dangerous political step", adding that the general could be asked to resign upon his return.

What did General Maphwanya say?

General Maphwanya, who the presidency stated has returned to the country, has not made any public statements regarding the ongoing controversy. The potential government actions against him remain unclear, while a spokesperson for the presidency confirmed that President Ramaphosa would meet with the general in the coming weeks for an official briefing.

Source: Al Jazeera