A screenshot of the post that has since been removed.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) is now being requested to take action against the Iranian embassy in South Africa, after this embassy made a post about American deaths on social media.
Over the weekend, the embassy posted an AI-generated photo of American coffins floating in the Strait of Hormuz, with the caption: “The only American thing that can pass through the Strait of Hormuz.”
The post has since been removed after drawing criticism.
The idea center and advocacy group Lex Libertas has nevertheless now sent an open letter to Dirco and demanded that the department take action against the embassy.
After all, the department was quick to take action against Brent Bozell, the US’s new ambassador to South Africa, when he publicly said last week that the “Kill the Boer” chant is hate speech, says Dr. Ernst Roets, executive director of Lex Libertas.
Roets says the embassy’s post raises serious concerns about whether the South African government consistently applies diplomatic standards.
“Dirco acted quickly when the American ambassador expressed an opinion about a chant that, objectively speaking, amounts to hate speech.”
Dirco described the ambassador’s comments as undiplomatic.
“Images that celebrate the death of foreign citizens are, however, a much more serious matter,” says Roets. “The public has the right to know whether the same standards will be applied.”
Roets says the fact that the embassy has since removed his post is irrelevant as far as Lex Libertas is concerned.
The idea center therefore now calls on Dirco to explain whether diplomatic action against the Iranian embassy is being considered and to inform the public about what steps, if any, will be taken.
“The credibility of South Africa’s foreign policy depends on whether its principles are applied consistently,” Roets believes.
Dr. Corne Mulder, leader of the FF Plus, also expects the department to hear from him after the embassy’s posting.
“Dirco certainly wants to respond urgently,” Mulder said in a post of his own on social media. “(A) Clear reason why Iran’s stranglehold on Hormuz must be broken.”
#DemarcheIranAmbassador The Embassy of Iran in SA found it in order to post this tonight on X. Surely @theDIRCO would like to respond urgently. Clear reason why Iran’s strangle hold on Hormuz must be broken @maroelamedia @Netwerk24Berig pic.twitter.com/QA02IMTFnT
— Corné_Mulder (@MulderCorn) March 15, 2026
Maroela Media has approached Dirco for comment and is awaiting a response.