Kate Bartlett
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Local media reported South Africa's president, Cyril Ramaphosa, said Iran must sit the exercises out over concern about antagonizing the U.S.
However, Iran did take part in the drills, and the government is now investigating why the president's orders were ignored.
Iranian vessels have been in South Africa as part of a maritime exercise that also includes Russian and Chinese ships.
The countries are all members of the BRICS group of developing economies.
embassy on Thursday accused South Africa of, quote, cozying up to a state sponsor of terrorism.
It said Iran's participation in the exercises was especially egregious given Tehran's deadly crackdown on anti-government protesters this week.
South Africa's presidency also released a statement condemning the crackdown on protesters in Iran.
Kate Bartlett, NPR News, Johannesburg.
Yudizeli Sambudla Zuma resigned from the Mkonto Osiswe party Friday amid allegations from her own half-sister she had trafficked South Africans to Russia.
Sambudla Zuma denies the charges, saying she too was duped by a recruiter.
She claims she thought the men were being sent to Russia to train as bodyguards and return to work for her political party.
Earlier this month, the men contacted the South African government, saying they were on the front lines in Donbass, Ukraine, and begging to be repatriated.
The government says it's working with the Russians and Ukrainians to get the men back, and a police investigation has been launched.
NPR has seen terrified WhatsApp messages from the men saying they had no idea they were going to be fighting in a war.
Kate Bartlett, NPR News, Johannesburg.
Didizeli Sambudla Zuma resigned from the Mkonto-Wisizwe party Friday amid allegations from her own half-sister she had trafficked South Africans to Russia.
Sambudla Zuma denies the charges, saying she too was duped by a recruiter.
She claims she thought the men were being sent to Russia to train as bodyguards and return to work for her political party.
Earlier this month, the men contacted the South African government, saying they were on the front lines in Donbass, Ukraine, and begging to be repatriated.