Mozambique’s Chief of General Staff on goodwill visit to South Africa

General Rudzani Maphwanya, Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), formally welcomed his Mozambican counterpart, General Júlio dos Santos Jane, Chief of the General Staff of the Mozambique Defence Armed Forces (Forças Armadas de Defesa de Moçambique – FADM), during a high‑level Goodwill Visit on Monday 12 October 2026 to Defence Headquarters in Pretoria.

The visit, taking place from 11 to 18 October 2026, reflects the deepening defence cooperation between two neighbouring Southern African Development Community (SADC) partners committed to shared regional security.

The programme commenced with a Welcoming Parade at the Defence Headquarters-based Armscor sports grounds, where the SANDF showcased its military discipline and ceremonial tradition.

This was followed by a Courtesy Call at Defence Headquarters, during which both Chiefs engaged in substantive conference room-setting discussions on strengthening military‑to‑military cooperation.

During deliberations, Chief of the South African National Defence Force indicated that when faced with “… interconnected challenges, it is imperative that both our nations continue to collectively formulate and execute integrated solutions. In modern defence management, security in Maputo translates directly to security in Pretoria; insecurity in Cabo Delgado reverberates across the entire Southern African region.”

His counterpart, General Jane echoed this sentiment in his own prepared remarks, stating that “…challenges remind us of an inescapable reality: the security of Mozambique and the security of South Africa are deeply interconnected. The stability of one of our countries contributes to the stability of the other and, consequently, to the peace and security of the entire region.”

He also stressed that “This visit is of particular significance, as it allows us to continue the dialogue initiated during Your Excellency’s official visit to Mozambique in March of this year, to assess the degree of implementation of the understandings reached then, and to identify new opportunities to give greater dynamism and effectiveness to our cooperation.”

Presentations highlighted ongoing collaboration in training, border security, and regional stabilisation efforts, underscoring the strategic importance of coordinated defence approaches between South Africa and Mozambique. The meeting concluded with an exchange of tokens of appreciation, symbolising mutual respect and the enduring partnership between the two armed forces.

The Mozambican delegation ended its first day with a fact‑finding visit to the South African National War College and a dinner at the same venue, gaining insight into South Africa’s professional military education system and its role in shaping strategic leadership.

This Goodwill Visit reinforces the priority both nations place on defence diplomacy as a tool for advancing collective security. As neighbouring SADC members, South Africa and Mozambique continue to rely on strong bilateral defence ties to address shared challenges and promote stability across the region.

General Jane’s concluding remarks underscored these sentiments when he stated that “In closing, I reiterate my sincere thanks for the invitation and fraternal hospitality, and I wish you every success in the work we are now beginning.”

Source: SA National Defence Force / Press Release