Defence minister is investigating herself to avoid accountability – analyst

Minister of Defence Angie Motshekga is trying to escape accountability by launching a board of inquiry into her own department.

This is according to prominent military analyst and Director at African Defence Review, Darren Olivier, who responded to the news that Motshekga is investigating Iran’s participation in the South African-hosted sea phase of the naval exercise Will for Peace 2026. 

Motshekga said that media reports indicating that Iran participated in the naval exercise show that the South African National Defence Force must have “misrepresented” or “ignored” a directive from President Cyril Ramaphosa himself. 

“Ramaphosa needs to remove Motshekga from her position now, then run his own investigation,” Olivier said. 

Olivier said the board of inquiry that has been launched is not sufficient, because the minister sets the terms of reference herself and it can’t find against her, or the SANDF.

“Ministers are ultimately accountable for the actions of their department, and this failure is entirely on her for not following through for a week on a presidential order,” he said. 

The inquiry is an attempt to escape accountability, according to the analyst. Olivier is calling for the ministry to take the situation more seriously. 

“I’d say this is serious enough that the Chief of the SANDF, Chief of Joint Operations, and possibly the Chief of the Navy (if it’s determined he was involved) should be relieved of duty immediately too, so as to prevent any interference with the investigation.”

In a statement on 16 January 2026, Motshekga said that President Cyril Ramaphosa issued clear instructions on how the exercise should be conducted, particularly on the participation of the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

“The Minister of Defence, Angie Motshekga, would like to place it on record that the instruction was clearly communicated to all parties concerned, agreed upon and to be implemented and adhered to as such,” the minister said. 

Department of defence escaping accountability

Initial reports in the media, stemming from the SABC, indicated that Iran had downgraded its role to Observeror withdrawn from active participation following political pressure. 

However, Newsday reported how, on January 13, 2026, a SANDF Facebook post listed the Iranian corvette Naghdi among ships departing Simon’s Town for the exercise’s sea phase, alongside the other participants:

• The UAE Corvette Bani Yas;
• Russian Corvette Stoikiy;
• South African Frigate SAS Amatola;
• Chinese Destroyer Tangshan; and, against media reports,
• Iranian Corvette Naghdi.

The post, which included details of the vessels involved, was subsequently removed, prompting speculation about efforts to manage public perception.

Olivier said that the Department of Defence had a week to react and did nothing. Instead of seeking clarity, the SANDF took down social media posts, cancelled briefings and stopped posting pictures entirely. 

“There are so many questions that need answers. What exactly did the order say? How was it conveyed? As a verbal order to Motshekga, as a memo, etc? Who did Motshekga give it and when? Who informed Iran, and when? we’ve been told it was last weekend,” Olivier said.

“Did Iran fail to comply with an official request sent to them both diplomatically & military-to-military? If so, why did SA not stop the exercise? Why did the SA Navy continue to participate?”

Olivier is calling for the Presidency to make the content and timeline of the instruction public. 

“For too long, South Africa’s ministers of defence, generals, and admirals have been relatively immune from consequences, being allowed to quietly move on or retire in comfort even after huge scandals,” he said.

“If there is to be any hope of reforming the SANDF, that needs to end now.”