Minister of Defence Angie Motshekga has established a Board of Inquiry to investigate Iran’s participation in recent multinational naval exercises held off South Africa’s coast.
The drills, led by China and involving naval vessels from China, Iran, Russia and the United Arab Emirates, took place in waters off Cape Town as part of cooperation among BRICS-aligned nations. The exercises attracted international attention amid reports that the South African government had attempted to have Iran excluded from the drills.
Iran’s involvement came at a time when the country is facing international scrutiny over a domestic crackdown which activists claim has left thousands dead. It remains unclear to what extent Iranian vessels took part in the exercises, which the South African Navy has defended as essential for safeguarding shipping lanes and maritime economic activity.
In a statement, Motshekga said President Cyril Ramaphosa’s instructions regarding Iran’s participation were clearly communicated, agreed upon and were expected to be implemented by all parties involved.
The Board of Inquiry will investigate allegations that the president’s directives may have been misrepresented or disregarded during the exercise. It will also examine the conduct of participants and is expected to submit a report to the Ministry of Defence within seven days of the drills’ conclusion.
Motshekga added that all government entities involved had worked closely and in consultation with one another throughout the process.
The naval exercise has drawn criticism from some quarters, with analysts noting that it brought together countries with strained relations with the United States at a time when Pretoria is seeking to repair ties with Washington.
The US embassy in South Africa also voiced concern, describing Iran as a destabilising actor and state sponsor of terrorism. In a post on Facebook, the embassy said Iran’s inclusion in joint naval exercises undermines maritime security and regional stability. It further criticised South Africa for hosting Iranian security forces amid allegations of human rights abuses against Iranian citizens.
Relations between South Africa and the United States have deteriorated sharply in recent months over a range of policy disagreements, including Pretoria’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice over the war in Gaza.