SANDF chief's Iran comments spark diplomatic concern amid US trade talks
The country's top general, Rudzani Maphwanya, has expressed solidarity with Iran... and Washington isn’t impressed.
FILE: General Rudzani Maphwanya addressed the annual global commemoration of the International Day of United Nations (UN) Peacekeepers in De Brug Army Base in Bloemfontein on 29 May 2025. Picture: Simphiwe Nkosi/EWN
Mongezi Koko (standing in for 702 and CapeTalk’s Mandy Wiener) chats to international relations expert, Peter Fabricius.
Listen below:
A recent statement by South African National Defence Force (SANDF) chief General Rudzani Maphwanya, expressing solidarity with Iran, has raised alarm among international observers, particularly in Washington, just as South Africa pushes for a new trade package with the United States.
"It's going to go down like a proverbial lead balloon in Washington. They have been pretty agitated about our relations with Iran anyway... the timing could hardly have been worse."
- Peter Fabricius, International Relations expert
"I think it shows, if nothing else, a real lack of coordination of government at the very top."
- Peter Fabricius, International Relations expert
While the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has distanced itself from Maphwanya’s remarks, Fabricius warns that this may not be enough to calm critics in the US, especially among Republican lawmakers.
There are also concerns that the fallout could impact South Africa’s diplomatic standing in forums like the G20.
Fabricius notes that while the US recently confirmed it would attend upcoming G20 meetings, its participation may now be downgraded further – or withdrawn altogether – depending on how this controversy unfolds.
Scroll up to listen to the full conversation.