Army Chief’s Official Military Visit to Moscow Raises Questions

Statement by Chris Hattingh MP – DA Spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans:

The Democratic Alliance will seek urgent answers from the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans regarding the official visit by the Chief of the South African Army, Lieutenant General Lawrence Mbatha, to Moscow, Russian Federation, on 27 July 2026.

According to the SANDF’s own statement, the visit was undertaken to “strengthen bilateral defence cooperation”, “foster closer collaboration” between the South African Army and the Russian Ground Forces, and expand cooperation in training, leadership development, professional military education and the exchange of military expertise.

The official programme included high-level staff talks with senior Russian Army leadership, a visit to the Moscow Combined Arms School, and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

This cannot be dismissed as routine defence diplomacy or ordinary international military relations. In the context of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, an official visit aimed at strengthening military cooperation with the Russian armed forces amounts to an endorsement of Russia’s military campaign.

This directly contradicts Government’s repeated claims that South Africa maintains a policy of non-alignment in the conflict. A country cannot credibly claim to be neutral while publicly strengthening military ties with one of the belligerents.

South Africa has also sought to position itself as a potential mediator in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. That position is now increasingly untenable.

Parliament and the South African public are entitled to understand how this engagement accords with Government’s stated policy of strategic non-alignment.

The visit also comes at a time when the SANDF faces severe financial constraints, declining operational readiness, ageing equipment, critical capability gaps and increasing pressure to fulfil its constitutional mandate.

South Africans deserve to know what tangible operational benefits justify this engagement and how it advances South Africa’s national defence interests.

This visit must also be viewed in the broader context of recent military engagements involving Russia, including Exercise Mosi II, the Lady R controversy and Exercise Will for Peace 2026.

Taken together, these actions demonstrate a consistent pattern of public military engagement with Russia that is fundamentally at odds with South Africa’s stated foreign policy and further erodes the country’s international credibility.

Collectively, these events continue to raise legitimate questions about the consistency of South Africa’s defence diplomacy and foreign policy.

The DA will therefore submit parliamentary questions to establish:

• who authorised the visit;
• whether the Presidency and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation approved or were consulted on the engagement;
• the objectives of the visit;
• the composition of the delegation;
• the total cost to taxpayers;
• what defence cooperation was discussed;
• whether any agreements or undertakings were concluded; and
• how the visit is consistent with Government’s stated policy of non-alignment.

The SANDF serves the Republic of South Africa under civilian authority and remains accountable to Parliament.

International military engagements with significant foreign policy implications must therefore be transparent, properly authorised and clearly aligned with South Africa’s national interests.