By Abongwe Kobokana
Copyright sabcnews
Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga has defended the Chief of the South African National Defence Force, General Rudzani Maphwanya, in relation to the alleged political statements he made during his trip in Iran.
The minister says there’s no evidence before her that the chief of SANDF flouted the Defence Act.
Motshekga was part of the ministers of the Peace and Security Cluster answering oral questions in Parliament.
“There is no evidence that the Chief of Defence Force contravened the provisions of the above act as the member quoted. An opinion piece that was made in a member’s private capacity by another member,” says Motshekga.
Motshekga says she gave permission to the Chief of the South African National Defence Force to travel to Iran. The visit by General Maphwanya became controversial after the remarks he allegedly made during the trip surfaced.
The Presidency said President Cyril Ramaphosa didn’t know about the trip and didn’t sanction the visit as that process sits with the minister.
“As much as he is the appointee of the President, he reports directly to the minister. And I approve his trips. So that trip was approved as late as last year. But unfortunately for different reasons could not be undertaken. It was postponed again and I had to under see it. So, this time it was a third time that we tried to undertake the trip,” Motshekga explains.
