PRETORIA — The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation has strongly condemned former President Jacob Zuma’s controversial meeting with the fugitive Gupta brothers in India, demanding urgent clarity from the South African government regarding the diplomatic optics of the visit. In a separate but equally critical statement, the foundation also slammed the reappointment of Dina Pule as the Minister of Social Development, labeling the decision an insult to the country’s most vulnerable citizens.
Diplomatic Optics and the Gupta Meeting
The controversy stems from recent footage broadcast by an Indian media outlet, which showed Zuma visiting a temple in Haridwar and meeting with the Gupta family. The former president was quoted in the broadcast stating he was in India to visit his “brother and friend.”
Neeshan Balton, Executive Director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, dismissed the justification for the visit, particularly Zuma’s pilgrimage to the Haridwar temple, which the foundation interpreted as an attempt to seek divine permission for a political return to the South African presidency. Balton described the notion as “beyond ridiculous.”
The foundation’s primary concern lies in the fact that the Gupta brothers—specifically Ajay (AJ) and Rajesh (RJ) Gupta—are wanted fugitives in South Africa. The judicial commission of inquiry into state capture, led by former Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, found that Zuma, during his tenure as president, enabled the Gupta family to loot state resources and subsequently flee accountability.
Balton highlighted the severe allegations against the Gupta family, noting that AJ Gupta allegedly offered then-Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas a R600 million bribe to secure the finance minister position. Furthermore, the Guptas reportedly pressured Thabo Maseko, the head of the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), to hand over all government advertising contracts, and frequently preempted the president by notifying individuals of their ministerial appointments before they were officially announced.
Questions Surrounding High Commissioner Anil Sooklal
The meeting has also sparked a diplomatic controversy closer to home, prompting Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola to publicly address the issue. Lamola’s intervention follows the emergence of photographs showing South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, pictured alongside Zuma and Rajesh Gupta.
Balton stated that the foundation is calling on both the Presidency and the Department of International Relations to clarify Sooklal’s level of involvement. The foundation raised several critical questions regarding the High Commissioner’s actions, including whether Sooklal accompanied Zuma to the Gupta family residence in Saharanpur.
Furthermore, Balton questioned whether the diplomat used the opportunity to inform Indian authorities about the Guptas’ whereabouts—given that the family is also wanted in India for alleged wrongdoings—and whether Sooklal notified Pretoria in advance of the meeting. Balton emphasized that the optics of a South African diplomat fraternizing with individuals deemed culpable for enormous economic damage by the Zondo Commission are entirely inappropriate.
Political Support vs. Accountability
Addressing counterarguments that Zuma’s political party currently serves as the main opposition and retains significant voter support, Balton maintained that electoral popularity does not erase the damage inflicted on the country.
While acknowledging that Zuma could potentially garner majority support in future elections, Balton stressed that a popular vote does not nullify the wrongdoings or the absolute damage caused by Zuma, the Guptas, and their associates. He noted that it often falls to minority voices and civil organizations to continuously point out these wrongdoings until the broader public fully grasps the consequences of such political support.
Concerns Over Dina Pule’s Reappointment
Transitioning to domestic affairs, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation also issued a stern rebuke regarding the recent swearing-in of Dina Pule as the Minister of Social Development. While the governing African National Congress (ANC) has defended her return by claiming she has been “rehabilitated” and shown remorse for the actions that previously led to her dismissal, the foundation remains unconvinced.
Balton pointed out that Pule was previously found guilty of gross misconduct and irregular behavior by both the Public Protector and Parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics. The foundation argues that appointments of this nature must inspire public confidence, which they say this decision fails to do, especially in a ministry with a troubled history of similar leadership failures.
In a strongly worded statement, the foundation declared that placing an individual previously found guilty of compromising her oath of office in charge of the Social Development portfolio is an “insult to the poor.” The department is responsible for overseeing life-saving social grants and support programs for millions of destitute and vulnerable citizens.
Balton emphasized that the role requires a leader of unquestioned integrity to manage the massive disbursement of public funds. Given the department’s history of poor leadership, the foundation expressed deep alarm over the potential risks posed to the vulnerable populations who rely on the ministry’s services.
