If boycotting the National Dialogue equates to boycotting the people of South Africa, then the conduct of someone such as the country’s Defence Force Chief during his visit to Iran can only be described as sabotage of South Africa and its people.
While the Presidency issued a statement strongly condemning those unwilling to participate in a National Dialogue with the ANC, the Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), General Rudzani Maphwanya, has just returned from a visit to Iran, where he reportedly promoted “military and strategic ties” between Iran and South Africa.
This comes just six weeks after the United States (US) bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities. Gen. Maphwanya’s conduct was reckless and could further strain relations between South Africa and the US.
If President Cyril Ramaphosa was not aware of and did not approve this visit, as he claims, there is obviously a serious lack of control over the SANDF’s leadership, pointing to a significant internal crisis.
Such a transgression warrants immediate disciplinary measures – similar to the dismissal of Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield for an unauthorised international trip.
The ANC’s call for a National Dialogue to address South Africa’s crises stands in stark contrast to such reckless conduct.
It creates the impression of utter ineptitude. It is too late for the President and Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to express their dismay; the damage on the international stage has already been done.
This clearly demonstrates an inability to acknowledge the causes of the country’s problems, let alone find solutions. The Freedom Front Plus refuses to participate in a dialogue led by a party that engages in such duplicitous conduct.
The party can hardly imagine a greater insult to the US, especially amid political negotiations aimed at resolving the trade crisis between the two countries.
South Africa deserves leadership and dialogue that prioritise the country’s interests, not conduct that exacerbates international tensions and undermine economic stability.
