SA Politics Thread Part 11: The GNU Normal

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ToxicBunny said:
This is on Twitter of course.

I can only think this is the extreme minority that has been given a voice due to social media because you don't feel this sort of hate in the real world, if anything everyone is just trying to make things work.
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The same septic corner of twitter where on Sunday morning certain dipschits first learned of a guy called Khamzat Chimaev...
 
Here it comes. Time to find out how much we will not be bullied...

“The US government has taken note, with great concern, of the statements made by a senior SANDF official in Iran, as well as the conflicting messages from senior South African government representatives in response,” a US embassy spokesperson told News24.

“We are seeking clarification from the government of South Africa on the official South African government policy regarding Iran.”

Meanwhile, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) said Deputy International Relations Minister Alvin Botes and Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Andries Nel had a call with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on Tuesday evening.

“The deputies had cordial discussions on issues of mutual interest and concern and committed to further engagements,” the department said.

It was not immediately clear whether Maphwanya’s utterances were discussed.

The US’ response comes after Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga defended Maphwanya’s visit to Iran, denying that he had gone rogue and reducing the diplomatic blunder to a mere coincidence.

Last Friday, Motshekga spoke to News24 on the sidelines of the first National Convention in Pretoria.

During the conversation, she said the matter had been blown out of proportion because the trip to Tehran last week was scheduled and approved last year.

Motshekga said Maphwanya was invited to Iran in 2024, but that he couldn’t go at the time. She went on to explain that the event had been postponed to 2025.

The minister said: “I gave him permission, and so that is why I wasn’t sure whether it is because Iran [is in conflict] with America [that] we mustn’t touch them, and we must not get close. We have our own bilaterals with different countries.”

The minister also said: “The issue is that Iran was fighting with America. If he had said it in Israel, they would have been happy.”

Asked whether the issue was that Maphwanya’s comments came at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions between South Africa and the US, which the South African government was trying to delicately manage, the minister said: “That is what I am saying, that people have to understand it in that sense. It’s not Maphwanya’s issue. It’s not a travel issue; it’s a delicate relationship between America and Iran. It has nothing to do with anything wrong that he could have done. It’s just the very toxic space that we find ourselves in because of [the tariff] negotiations.”

During the Iran trip, Maphwanya referred to historic ties and shared interests, and added that South African and that country were “allies in anti-colonialism”.

The trip to Iran put South Africa in a predicament as it tried to negotiate a trade deal with the US, which considers the Islamic state an enemy.

The comments were described as political and outside of his constitutional mandate.

The Presidency previously said the trip was “ill-advised” and that Ramaphosa would be meeting with Maphwanya soon.

While it was unclear whether Ramaphosa would act against Maphwanya and Motshekga, News24 understands that the incident could cost South Africa considerably.

Previously, Dirco distanced itself from Maphwanya’s utterances and said the general did not speak on behalf of South Africa regarding foreign policy.

Last week, the defence ministry also clarified that Maphwanya was not mandated to speak on foreign policy, contradicting Motshekga’s later statements.
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Unhappy1 said:
The general should already be fired if couch stuffer had even 1% of a spine, mr useless do nothing might give us an inquiry into the matter if we're lucky though.
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Cyril may still have a few retired judges on his list that require some additional income. Commission of enquiry incoming.
 
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