By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Democratic Alliance (DA) the second largest partner in South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU) has called for immediate removal and prosecution of the army chief, Gen Rudzani Maphwanya following his recent visit to Iran where he reportedly pledged military and political support.
DA in a statement called for Gen Maphwanya to be “court-martialled”, saying his comments had gone “beyond military-to-military discussions and entered the realm of foreign policy”, accusing him of “reckless grandstanding”.
Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa has said he would meet the general to discuss his “ill-advised” trip.
The row comes amid deteriorating relations between South Africa and the US, which has taken exception to the country’s ties with Iran, among other issues.
South Africa’s defence department labelled the general’s remarks “unfortunate” while Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the President didn’t know about the trip.
“The visit was ill-advised and more so, the expectation is that the general should have been a lot more circumspect with the comments he makes,” Mr Magwenya told reporters during a briefing on Thursday.
Gen Maphwanya, who was in Iran solely for a military trip, has since returned home.
Iran’s state-owned Press TV reported that the South African general had affirmed the two countries had “common goals” and also condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza.
“At this period of heightened geopolitical tensions as well as conflict in the Middle East, one can say the visit was ill-advised,” Magwenya said, adding that Ramaphosa had not been aware of the visit.
