The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has waded into the controversy surrounding the remarks made by South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Chief General Rudzani Maphwanya during his visit to Iran, with the party stressing South Africa’s sovereignty.

The US has expressed “great concern” and seeks clarity from the South African government around Maphwanya's visit after he was quoted by Iranian State media pledging “common goals” with Iran, endorsing its stance on Gaza, and calling for deeper strategic alignment.

Tensions between the US and Iran heightened dramatically when the US and its ally Israel bombed Iranian nuclear sites in June, which only aggravated US-South Africa tensions that saw South Africa failing to secure a trade deal with the US, instead having tariffs of 30% levied by the US on a slew of South African goods and produce.

The EFF is hitting back at the US, defending South Africa’s right to pursue trade, economic, diplomatic, and military relations with any suitable country, including fellow BRICS Plus member, Iran.

“We reject, with contempt, this arrogant posture by the United States, which presumes that South Africa owes it explanations for its sovereign diplomatic and military engagements… South Africa with Iran belongs to the grouping of the BRICS [Plus] countries that collaborate on social political and military matters. The enemies of the United States do not automatically constitute themselves as the enemies of South Africa, nor will our engagements be dictated by their shifting hostilities. This particular engagement with Iran was planned well before current tensions, dating back to 2024, and cannot be dismissed on the basis of temporary geopolitical disputes between the United States and Iran,” the party said.

It described the US as hypocritical for its criticism of South Africa’s relationship with Israel, while the US funds military aid for Israel and Ukraine.

“At no point has South Africa demanded an explanation or threatened its relations with the United States for arming those who kill and oppress our allies. Yet they presume that they can police our engagements with Iran, a sovereign State which has consistently stood on the side of Palestine and the oppressed,” the EFF pointed out.

It reaffirmed its support for Iran’s right to self-defence and warned South Africa should not be bullied and intimidated by the US.

“We must continue to engage freely with Iran and all other nations we choose to, without reducing our foreign policy to the emotions of Donald Trump or any other American President,” the party said.

The party also hit out at the South African government for “interference” with the military.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the Ministry of Defence have publicly distanced government from Maphwanya’s remarks, confirming they do not reflect official policy.

The Defence Ministry clarified that matters of the country's foreign policy and international relations were the sole prerogative of the President and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to meet with SANDF leadership and Minister of Defence Angie Motshekga, following Maphwanya’s remarks in Iran.

The EFF went further to call out Ramaphosa for distancing himself from Maphwanya’s trip.

“It is now clear why President Cyril Ramaphosa distanced himself from this visit, presenting it as if the Chief of the SANDF had gone rogue. In reality, he sought to downplay the engagement, anticipating America's displeasure and bending once more to the need to appease Donald Trump. This cowardly behaviour is consistent with the behaviour he displayed when he was in the Oval Office, unable to assert South Africa's independence in the face of imperial arrogance,” the party stated.

It stressed the need for an independent military and said no apology should come from this sector.

It said Maphwanya must not allow politicians to control the army and that his focus should be on safeguarding South Africans.

“The United States must face the reality that the era of unilateral global dominance is over. The world is shifting towards a multipolar order, where nations engage with each other as equals, not as subordinates of Washington. The EFF, therefore, calls on the South African government to remain firm and principled, and to assert our right to determine our diplomatic, economic, and military relations,” it stated.