Defence minister Angie Motshekga declined to answer questions in Parliament on Wednesday about whether President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised Iran’s participation in a joint naval exercise with South Africa.
The minister would not confirm whether the presidency issued any instruction, guidance or limitation regarding Iran’s involvement in Exercise Will for Peace, or whether such an instruction was complied with.
Democratic Alliance defence spokesperson Chris Hattingh asked Motshekga to clarify whether the president’s authority over the South African National Defence Force had been respected during the exercise.
“In any constitutional democracy, confirming that the Commander-in-Chief’s instructions were complied with should be the easiest question a minister can answer,” Hattingh said in a statement on Thursday.
The refusal comes nearly two months after a board of inquiry was reportedly initiated to investigate the circumstances surrounding Iran’s participation in the exercise. The president has since assumed direct responsibility for the investigation.
Iranian naval vessels, including the Shahid Mahdavi operated by the naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, participated in the exercise in South African waters.
The participation has raised diplomatic and security concerns, particularly following recent remarks by US ambassador to Pretoria Leo Brent Bozell about South Africa’s alignment with sanctioned nations.
Bozell suggested the SANDF may have disregarded the authority of Ramaphosa during the exercise, according to Hattingh’s statement.
The Iran question is the latest in a series of complaints about Motshekga’s responses to parliamentary oversight.
On the same day, the DA demanded answers over alleged misappropriation of R50 million belonging to soldiers through the South African Army Foundation. Money deducted from SANDF members’ salaries was reportedly diverted to unauthorised purposes, including credit cards linked to senior military figures.
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The Financial Sector Conduct Authority has investigated the matter, but the DA said much remains unclear. The party has submitted parliamentary questions asking what the minister knew, when she knew it, and what action she has taken.
Members of Parliament have also accused Motshekga of deflecting and delaying parliamentary oversight on other defence matters. The minister repeatedly cited security concerns to refuse detailed answers on questions about the condition of SANDF equipment, including the replenishment ship SAS Drakensberg, submarines and frigates.
Motshekga promised to brief a joint parliamentary committee meeting in the third term, but that meeting never took place.
The DA has called for clarity on who authorised Iran’s participation, when the presidency was informed, and whether proper civilian and diplomatic processes were followed.
“Civilian control of the military is the cornerstone of any constitutional democracy. When a minister refuses to confirm whether that principle was upheld, it inevitably deepens concerns about the state of governance within the SANDF,” Hattingh said.
The incident has highlighted tensions between South Africa’s foreign policy decisions and its relations with major trading partners, including the United States.
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