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Vol 66 No 17

Published 29th August 2025


South Africa

General’s Iran mission deepens ANC rifts

The defence chief’s foreign policy pronouncement in Tehran exposes President Ramaphosa’s waning authority

The most serious problem with South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Chief General Rudzani Maphwanya’s visit to Iran from 12 to 14 August was that President Cyril Ramaphosa was neither informed nor involved in authorising it. Defence Minister Angie Motshekga approved the trip, but the Presidency was left in the dark.

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