Captain Nndwakhulu Thomas Thamaha

Captain Nndwakhulu Thomas Thamaha is a South African official whose specific role isn't detailed in the provided articles, but he is involved in the context of South Africa's defense of the BRICS naval drills, named "Will for Peace 2026", held in January 2026. He is newsworthy because he is part of the South African government's justification for holding these drills with Russia, Iran, and China, despite international tensions and criticism. The drills are described as essential for protecting South Africa's maritime economic activities and responding to rising global maritime tensions. The exercises are significant because they represent a potential shift in BRICS focus beyond economic cooperation, and are viewed by some as a diplomatic statement of intent. The US is closely monitoring the situation, and some BRICS members, like India, opted out of participating.