President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially received the final report from the independent panel appointed to investigate naval drills known as "Exercise MOSI III: Will of Peace."

The Presidency confirmed that the panel, chaired by retired Justice Bernard Ngoepe, concluded its probe into how Iran’s navy participated in the joint exercises despite explicit instructions from the President prohibiting it.

The investigation was instituted in February 2026 following an apparent breakdown in the command structure during the Chinese-led "Will of Peace 2026" drills held in South African waters.

Ramaphosa had previously issued a direct instruction requesting that Iran withdraw and no longer participate in the joint exercise.

When that directive was openly ignored, the President instituted an urgent, high-level panel to uncover how and why his executive instructions failed to filter down through the military and State structures.

The independent panel reporting directly to Ramaphosa comprised prominent legal and military figures, including, chairperson Justice Bernard Ngoepe and panel members Justice Kathleen Satchwell, Justice Mashangu Monica Leeuw, and Rear Admiral (Junior Grade) Patrick Duze.

While initially given a strict mandate of one calendar month to finalise their investigation, the panel successfully argued for an extension, presenting evidence that more time was required to properly assess the security breaches and logistical timeline.

Because the investigation touches directly on defence operations, international diplomatic relations, and intelligence protocols, the Presidency has noted that the panel’s findings remain confidential owing to national security concerns.

Ramaphosa has expressed his gratitude to Ngoepe and his team for their “dedication and diligence”.

The Presidency said Ramaphosa will be processing the report and carefully consider its recommendations.