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South Africa has appointed a retired judge to chair an inquiry into Iran\u2019s participation in naval drills off the coast of Cape Town earlier this month, following conflicting reports about the Islamic Republic\u2019s involvement in the exercises.<\/p>\n
Judge Bernard Ngoepe will chair the investigating board, while judges Monica Leeuw and Kathleen Satchwell, together with Patrick Duze \u2013 a retired rear admiral from the South African Navy \u2013 are the other members of the body, the Department of Defence said in a statement on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Read:
SA seeks delay of Russia-China war games during G20
Chinese, Iranian and Russians in naval drills off SA coast
US says South Africa is cozying up to Iran with naval drills
Motshekga appoints inquiry into whether order for Iran\u2019s naval drill exit was flouted
US intensifies criticism of SA after Brics war games
South Africa faces mounting furor over Iran role in naval drills<\/p>\n
Warships from some members of the Brics group of developing nations, including Iran, Russia and China, arrived in South African waters in early January for a naval exercise, with the US criticising Tehran\u2019s participation for undermining maritime security and regional stability.<\/p>\n
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US President Donald Trump has threatened to attack Iran over a violent crackdown against protesters, and said the US will impose a 25% tariff on goods from countries \u201cdoing business\u201d with the nation.<\/p>\n
Pictures show Iranian officials \u2018were present\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n While local news outlet News24 reported that Pretoria had persuaded Iran to withdraw from the war games, pictures on the South African National Defence Force\u2019s Facebook page showed captains of participating vessels docked in the naval base in Simon\u2019s Town, with Iranian officials present.<\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT:<\/p>\n CONTINUE READING BELOW<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Minister of Defence Angie Motshekga\u00a0said President Cyril Ramaphosa had issued clear instructions on how the drills should be conducted \u2013 which dealt with Iran\u2019s participation in particular \u2013 and they had been clearly communicated.<\/p>\n The board will investigate and report on \u201cthe serious allegations that the president\u2019s instructions may have not been carried out, misrepresented and or ignored\u201d regarding Iran\u2019s participation, the Department of Defence said.<\/p>\n \u00a9 2026 Bloomberg<\/p>\n Follow Moneyweb\u2019s in-depth finance and business news on WhatsApp here.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n