Speaking to the SABC, Mbalula said the naval drills were a BRICS initiative led by China, and that Iran’s participation was addressed through diplomatic protocols. His comments come amid criticism from the United States and confirmation by the Defence Ministry that an inquiry is underway into whether President Cyril Ramaphosa’s instructions on Iran’s involvement were properly implemented. Government has however maintained that South Africa’s conduct did not breach diplomatic or security procedures. Mbalula says the drills were not initiated by South Africa and that the country merely provided a platform for the exercise.
These drills are not SA, SA was just availing its platform, which is our cease to allow BRICS countries to do this. Then they brought along Iran, it is SA that intervened and said that we don’t think this. It is a member of BRICS, but at the end of the day, at the level of security in terms of diplomatic protocols, these issues were resolved there. Our generals, from the briefing that we got, did nothing wrong,” he said.
–SABC–
