Three retired judges and a retired rear admiral will conduct the Board of Inquiry into why President Cyril Ramaphosa’s orders for Iranian warships not to participate in a joint naval exercise earlier in January this year were not obeyed. Defence Minister Angie Motshekga announced the members of the board on Wednesday, 28 January 2026. (Photo: Rhodes University / Wikipedia)Retired Rear Admiral Patrick Duze is the only military officer on the Board of Inquiry. He said key questions for the Board of Inquiry included: Who decided to allow Iran to participate in the first place? “The Chief of the Navy (Vice Admiral Monde Lobese) and the Flag Officer Fleet do not seem to have been in those decision loops.