Johannesburg — The Democratic Alliance (DA) has raised serious concerns over the visit of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Chief, General Rudzani Maphwanya, to Tehran this week. The party claims the military leader engaged in political diplomacy beyond his mandate, publicly aligning with Iran on global affairs and the Gaza conflict.
According to Iranian media reports, Maphwanya also discussed joint projects and student exchanges, actions the DA says fall outside his constitutional role. The party argues foreign policy should remain under the elected government and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), not conducted by a military chief.
The visit comes amid strained relations between South Africa and key democratic partners, notably the United States. The cancellation of Exercise Shared Accord 2025 by the US over South African breaches of bilateral agreements has already affected long-standing cooperation in humanitarian, peacekeeping, and training programmes. 
Chris Hattingh, DA spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans, said the party will seek urgent answers from the Ministers of Defence and International Relations, questioning whether Maphwanya’s statements were authorised and what commitments, if any, were made on behalf of South Africa.
The DA warns that the military chief’s actions risk further diplomatic isolation, possible retaliatory measures, and could worsen economic vulnerabilities, arguing that SANDF should focus solely on defence leadership rather than political engagement abroad.
