By Simon Nare
Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga has established a Board of Inquiry (BOI) to determine whether Iranian warships took part in the BRICS naval exercise Will for Peace in Simon’s Town, allegedly in defiance of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s instructions.
In a statement issued on Friday, Motshekga said the inquiry would investigate whether the president’s directive was misrepresented or ignored.
“The Board of Inquiry must establish all the facts on what took place during the exercise and table a report to the minister within seven days after the completion of the exercise,” Motshekga said.
She said the inquiry was necessitated by the seriousness of the allegations.
Motshekga stressed that Ramaphosa’s instruction — that the Iranian navy should not participate in the exercise — was clearly communicated, agreed upon, and was to be implemented by all parties involved.
“Furthermore, it can be stated that all government entities involved in this event have been working very closely, in consultation with each other, at every step,” she said.
Other BRICS countries, including Russia and China, participated in the drill.
Motshekga has come under intense scrutiny following reports that Iranian warships were involved in the exercise, as suggested by an update published by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) on its website. The update was reportedly later removed.
Earlier this week, News24 reported that Ramaphosa had instructed Motshekga to request Iran to assume observer status only at the drills. However, SANDF communications appeared to suggest that Iran may still have participated.
The alleged involvement of Iran has drawn sharp criticism from the United States Embassy, which condemned Pretoria’s actions as contradicting a government directive and undermining regional security.
In a post on X late on Thursday, the embassy said it noted “with concern and alarm” reports that the minister and the SANDF had defied a government order.
“Iran is a destabilising actor and a state sponsor of terror, and its inclusion in joint exercises — in any capacity — undermines maritime security and regional stability,” the embassy said.
“It is particularly unconscionable that South Africa welcomed Iranian security forces as they were shooting, jailing and torturing Iranian citizens engaging in peaceful political activity South Africans fought so hard to gain for themselves.”
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