Defence Minister Angie Motshekga has dismissed allegations that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s instructions regarding Exercise Will for Peace 2026 were ignored.
The multinational naval exercise, conducted off Simon’s Town in Cape Town, included vessels from Iran, China, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates as part of South Africa’s BRICS maritime drills.
“Minister of Defence Angie Motshekga would like to place it on record that the instruction was clearly communicated to all parties concerned, agreed upon, and implemented as such,” SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said.
A Board of Inquiry (BOI) has been established to investigate the allegations.
“The BOI must establish all the facts surrounding what took place during the exercise and submit a report to the Minister within seven days of its completion,” Dlamini said.
He added that all government entities involved worked closely together throughout both the planning and execution of the exercise.
Meanwhile, the United States Embassy criticised Iran’s participation, stating that it undermines regional maritime security.
“Permitting Iranian military forces to operate in South African waters, or travelling to Tehran to express solidarity, is not non-alignment. It is choosing to stand with a regime that brutally represses its people and engages in terrorism,” the embassy said.
Photo: X/@SANDF_ZA
