South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has received an independent investigation report examining Iran’s involvement in the Will for Peace 2026 naval exercise, bringing a months-long inquiry into the handling of a presidential instruction to a new stage.
The report concerns the circumstances surrounding the presence of Iranian naval vessels during the multinational exercise off South Africa’s coast and the apparent failure to implement an instruction that Iran should no longer participate.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said Ramaphosa would study the report and carefully consider its recommendations. However, the Presidency has confirmed that the panel’s work and its findings will remain confidential because of national security considerations.
The report’s submission does not, by itself, establish whether any individual will face disciplinary action or other consequences. Those decisions will depend on the president’s consideration of the findings and recommendations.
The controversy attracted international attention, particularly from the United States, after three Iranian warships appeared in False Bay in the Western Cape during the January 2026 exercise.
Inquiry examines why presidential instruction was not followed
The investigation was established after questions arose over whether the president’s instruction concerning Iran’s participation had been properly implemented.
South Africa had decided that Iranian naval vessels should not take part in the joint sea operations alongside ships from South Africa, China, Russia and the United Arab Emirates. The Iranian vessels were present in False Bay but, according to the supplied report, did not join the relevant joint naval operations.
The dispute prompted concerns about how the instruction was communicated and carried out within the defence establishment.
In February 2026, Ramaphosa established an independent panel to investigate the circumstances surrounding Exercise MOSI III, also known as Will for Peace 2026. The inquiry was tasked with examining the factors that may have contributed to the failure to observe the president’s instruction, identifying any individuals responsible and making recommendations on possible consequences.
The panel was chaired by Justice B.M. Ngoepe, with Justice M.M. Leeuw and Rear Admiral (Junior Grade) P.T. Duze among its members. The Presidency’s original announcement also named Justice K. Satchwell as a member of the panel.
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Ramaphosa initially directed the panel to complete its work and submit a report within one calendar month of its establishment. The panel subsequently requested additional time, presenting reasons for an extension so that it could complete its mandate.
The investigation was placed under the Presidency, with the stated objective of ensuring an independent inquiry into a matter involving the implementation of the president’s own instruction as commander-in-chief of the South African National Defence Force.
National security keeps findings from public scrutiny
Magwenya said the president had formally received the report and would consider its contents and recommendations.
The Presidency has not released the panel’s conclusions or disclosed whether it identified specific procedural failures, individuals responsible for the incident or grounds for disciplinary measures.
National security considerations have been cited as the reason for maintaining confidentiality. Under the terms announced when the panel was established, Ramaphosa could decide, following recommendations from the panel and the relevant minister, whether to publish all or part of the investigation’s findings.
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The president has also thanked Ngoepe and the other panel members for their dedication and diligence during the investigation.
The naval exercise took place amid sensitive international relations involving South Africa, Iran, Russia, China and the United States. The South African National Defence Force described Will for Peace 2026 as a joint exercise involving 10 countries within the broader BRICS+ framework.
The episode also unfolded against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny of international shipping and Western sanctions. Days before the exercise, the United States seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic, alleging that its crude oil cargo was linked to shipments involving Venezuela, Russia and Iran in violation of Western sanctions.
For South Africa, the inquiry concerns not only the diplomatic implications of Iran’s presence but also the process through which presidential instructions are implemented within the defence establishment.
With the report now before Ramaphosa, the next step rests with the president. Until the Presidency announces a decision or releases any findings, the panel’s conclusions and the possibility of further action remain undisclosed.