Ministers slam SANDF chief for his remarks about solidarity with Iran

“Maphwanya is a commissioned officer given authority by the President, just as with a Cabinet minister” …with travel needing to be authorised by the President, like with Whitfield?

Which twit authorised and approved this twit's trip to Iran. He must have provided somebody with a "good reason" to approve spending our tax money on this trip - to what end? To drink a cup of tea and return? No. Definitely something more sinister. Does the ANC really think the US administration is quite that stupid to believe the trip and the general's comments was reckless by the general only? Nah! I don't think so.

A perfect example of ANC behaviour. This shows the contempt for the GNU partners, the good of the country, of the common people, the financial wellbeing of South Africa that the ANC has. Let’s see how this is treated by the President. It properly shows the true colours of the ANC minority government and also its steady demise.

Stupid says stupid does. His synapses must have been vapourised from the nuclear fallout. Months of diplomatic weaseling destroyed in one second of stupidity. Will he be relived of his command given that he has just thrown SA back to the wolves … again.

I’ll wait with bated breath to see if the general will be dismissed. Then again with the ANC certain inviduals are more important than others.

Anything less than the sacking of both Motshekga and Maphwanya would show the Whitfield firing was purely to antagonize the DA, and definitely not for the good of the country. Reading Emma Powels article on N24, it is clear that as with everything else, the ANC is unwilling and unable to share any kind of power. Any bets on that there will be no serious consequences beyond fully paid suspensions? Even AfriForum and Solidarity visit to the Whitehouse was miles better than this idiocy by ANC.

Oh what a circus, oh what a show! Look at how stars and crests rest on this man's shoulders - he must be very, very important. A generalissimo among generalissimos. Perhaps we could have another article / opinionista here as to why sanctions / tariffs have nothing to do with our collaboration with such states as Iran?

“We always stand alongside the oppressed and defenceless people of the world,” said Maphwanya. Of course. Just like we stand alongside the people of Ukraine, the people of Tibet and the people of Taiwan.

It seems to me that there are forces within our security network actively working against Ramaphosa. He needs to stand up and take urgent action. First it was crime intelligence who ‘didn’t see’ the KZN riots. Then it was Arthur Fraser who deliberately acted to undermine Ramaphosa. Recently we had SAPS members making press conferences resulting in the take down of the minister and other senior police. Now the SANDF head on a frolic. Ramaphosa needs to wake up and try to act as a President.

Is it paranoid to feel uncomfortable with recent events such as this, the discord in police and intelligence services and former prisoner zuma conducting state visits? Is our government actually still in charge?

Haha, Mel Brooks and Lesley Neilson couldn't have scripted a more nutty show! Yet again, the anc government not knowing what their hands and feet are doing. They just keep digging the hole deeper and deeper...

Our defence force is an underfunded disaster, where did the money come from for this little jaunt?

The levels of incompetence in state entities just never ceases to amaze me. This so called General has attended a variety of excellent courses, etc within the SANDF. Emphasis on attended. He obviously is politically connected to get the top job in the SANDF as he certainly doesn’t demonstrate the expected intellect. What a shame that our once proud (and A political) Defense Force has become such a huge embarrassment. I assume that he will now receive a golden handshake and join the MK party.

“We always stand alongside the oppressed and defenceless people of the world”. Liar: where's our solidarity with the people of Sudan, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Iran (!), Ukraine, Myanmar, CAR, Eritrea, Afghanistan, Cuba and North Korea, to name a few. He must be court-marshalled for his comments which are treasonous. If Afriforum are being investigated for treason, surely this is even worse?

Ramaphosa must appoint a commission of inquiry to establish who authorised the travel, who authorised the meeting, who briefed the General on foreign policy etc. That should take a year or more. Then he can sit on the report for another few years....................and hey, presto, all will be right.

It beggars belief that the ANC would condone such a 'visit' at this sensitive time. We must have a masochist in the ANC who delights in pulling out a gun and shooting himself in each foot until the magazine is empty. This proves that every person in the ANC fold, simply goes off and does and says what they want to. Andrew Whitfield will be pretty much annoyed when the SANDF Chief returns home, to be invited for a cup of tea with Cyril and asked to avoid commenting to the press in future.

The week we go back to the US to try and salvage some kind of deal with them, we have: 1) A Russian naval vessel in our harbours 2) Mbalula shouting his mouth off 3) SANDF Chief cozying up to a terrorist regime 4) Still no Ambassador to the US to 'explain' 5) Cyril doing fokol 6) Parks Tau talking piffle about new strategies to support the auto sector (they'll take years to have any effect) Roll on elections, we need to rid ourselves of these idiots!

Just when you think we’ve reached the absolute pinnacle of stupidity, we haven’t. The core of the problem is the low level of intellect of ANC office bearers. Stupid people do stupid things all the time.

How embarassing !! Chief of what ??? SANDF .... is a mere shadow of itself. It cannot cobble together planes , soldiers or other equipment. And submarines... in but mostly out of the water . They may think they are protecting us in terms of the constitution but reality is something else . What an ill advised waste of taxpayers hard earned monies. General rather stay home and fix the forces !!. Sies tog man !! You were ill advised go ......

This visit is just another middle finger by the ANC to the west. It must have been planned between Iran and SA. This general did not suddenly on his own bat go to Iran. Lamola then tries to mitigate the damage with a feeble excuse. Probably one hand of the ANC has no idea what the other is doing. But quietly the general will probably be promoted up to Lieutenant General.

Just when you think the clowns running this country and its military cannot possibly do anything more stupid. Honk Honk Honk goes the big car horn!!

In other countries, Maphwanya would be fired! In SA, he'll get a slight rap on his knuckles -- MAYBE!

'Hatami as saying that Iran and South Africa were united by anti-colonial, anti-arrogance and justice-seeking principles.' Anti-colonial? Have we forgotten all 3 Persian Empires?

We are WAY overdue for a vote of no confidence in the president of and his fellow pillagers.

It's clear that the ANC is desperate for a few big donations. Now they also want to capture the "National Dialogue" as a party political patform in preparation for next year's Municipal Elections.

Omg,what are they thinking here ?Lets kill of any last remaining trade ?What does Iran bring ? Do we get free oil ?No just like their Russian tjommies bring nothing to the table but we dance for them ,like trained ...........

Ugh. At this point, Dirco should simply bankroll a class action lawsuit by American voters against the Republican Congressional caucus, POTUS, joint chiefs of staff and US Senate for allowing an act of war by the President, without Congressional approval and include snafus such as deploying the Federal Troops in California. Ideally, the complaint should also repeat, "No crowns. No kings." to activate the support from Americans who joined the No Kings protests in June.

Wise Angie approved the trip You could not make this up