Des Erasmus
Defence minister Angie Motshekga has appointed retired judge Bernard Ngoepe to lead a board of inquiry, alongside retired judges Monica Leeuw and Kathleen Satchwell, and retired Rear Admiral (junior grade) Patrick Duze, to investigate allegations that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s instructions on Iran’s participation in Exercise Will for Peace 2026 were ignored or misrepresented.
The Department of Defence said on Wednesday night that the board would establish the facts around the conduct of the exercise.
This comes after media reports and political pressure focused on the presence and activities of Iranian naval vessels in South African waters during the drills, which were held at Simon’s Town and nearby waters earlier this month.
Ramaphosa allegedly wanted Iran’s involvement restricted or withdrawn because of diplomatic fallout concerns, particularly with the United States.
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