Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, ordered an inquiry into Iran’s participation in a naval exercise. The presidency set up a commission of three judges on February 26, 2026. This panel investigated the failure to follow Ramaphosa’s instruction that Iran’s navy must not participate in Exercise Will of Peace 2026.
The commission received powers to summon defence force members and access classified information. It operated confidentially due to national security concerns. The panel had one month to report findings.
Exercise Details
The exercise occurred from January 9 to 16, 2026, in South African waters off Cape Town. China led the drills, which involved BRICS nations including Russia and the United Arab Emirates. Iran sent three warships, including the Naghdi destroyer.
Activities included rescue operations and maritime strikes. However Ramaphosa instructed Defence Minister Angie Motshekga to withdraw Iran’s vessels on January 9. Iran participated fully despite the order.
Reasons for the Probe
The inquiry addressed allegations that officials ignored or misrepresented the presidential directive. This stemmed from Iran’s crackdown on protesters, which drew international criticism. The United States warned that participation would harm relations.
Motshekga established an initial Board of Inquiry on January 16. She stated: “The instruction was clearly communicated to all parties concerned, agreed upon and to be implemented and adhered to as such.” The board examined if the order faced defiance.
Official Statements and Context
Ramaphosa’s presidency emphasized accountability. The statement declared: “The Panel will investigate and make recommendations in relation to the circumstances surrounding the exercise, the factors that may have contributed to the failure to observe the President’s order, person or person’s responsible and the consequences to follow.”
The United States embassy criticized the move. It stated: “It is unconscionable to welcome Iranian forces while they were allegedly shooting, jailing, and torturing citizens.” Meanwhile the probe highlighted tensions in BRICS-US relations.
The Democratic Alliance party condemned the government. It stated: “South Africa is now perceived not as a principled non-aligned state, but as a willing host for military cooperation with authoritarian regimes.” This added domestic pressure to the investigation.
