PRETORIA, Gauteng — The highly scrutinized Jacob Zuma India visit has ignited a fierce diplomatic and political firestorm, prompting the South African government to launch an urgent probe into the conduct of its top envoy in New Delhi. Following viral images showing the former president alongside a wanted fugitive, cabinet officials are now threatening drastic consequences and a comprehensive review of state-funded privileges for former heads of state.
The controversy centers on Zuma’s late June trip to a temple in Haridwar, a northern Indian city located near Saharanpur, the ancestral hometown of the Gupta family. Local media and viral video clips captured Zuma alongside Ajay Gupta and South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Professor Anil Sooklal.
In the footage, Zuma told Indian media he was visiting a “brother and friend” who was forced out of South Africa because “some people didn’t like their friendship.” He also stated he was seeking blessings from a religious leader because he plans to contest future elections and “make South Africa great again.”
Diplomatic Fallout and Cabinet Rebuke
The optics of the meeting have drawn severe condemnation from Pretoria. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni fiercely criticized both Zuma and High Commissioner Sooklal during a post-cabinet media briefing, accusing the diplomat of “hobnobbing” with criminals.
“It is a level of disgrace that our own employee, the representative of the government of South Africa, hobnobs with criminals instead of doing his work to ensure that fugitives are brought back,” Ntshavheni stated. She emphasized that Sooklal’s actions directly undermine the nation’s criminal justice system and foreign policy, effectively showing a “middle finger” to the South African taxpayers who fund his salary and the ongoing extradition efforts.
International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola has demanded a full explanatory report from the High Commission. Lamola warned that severe disciplinary steps would be taken to ensure no representative undermines the republic’s laws while in office.
Furthermore, the government announced it is actively reviewing the privileges extended to former presidents. While the state currently funds travel requests for former heads of state, it does not track their private itineraries. Officials warned that these privileges will be curtailed if they are abused to circumvent national laws or undermine state policies.
Internal MK Party Friction
While the MK Party initially defended the trip by noting Zuma is a private citizen free to travel, the visit has exposed deep internal fractures. Mac Maharaj, a former head of the MK Party presidency, heavily criticized the trip as a disastrous political miscalculation, especially with local government elections looming in November.
Maharaj revealed that he had previously blocked this specific meeting four or five times during his tenure, alleging that the trip was hastily organized by others immediately after his departure to facilitate the meeting with the Guptas.
The Fugitive Context
The Gupta brothers—Ajay, Atul, and Rajesh—remain at the center of South Africa’s state capture scandal, accused of siphoning billions of rands during Zuma’s administration. Both Zuma and the Guptas have consistently denied the allegations, labeling them politically motivated.
Although Atul and Rajesh Gupta were arrested in the UAE in 2022, South Africa’s extradition bid failed on a legal technicality. In response, Pretoria has moved to seize and sell the brothers’ multi-million-rand South African estates to recover state funds. Meanwhile, South Africa has formally applied for mutual legal assistance to bring the brothers back to face trial, even as the Guptas continue to face heightened scrutiny and raids by financial enforcement authorities in India.
Cabinet’s Secondary Agenda: Migration Protests and November Elections
Beyond the diplomatic scandal, the cabinet briefing also addressed severe domestic unrest, particularly concerning illegal migration and sporadic shutdowns in KwaZulu-Natal.
Protests have erupted over the repatriation of undocumented migrants, prompting the deployment of the SANDF to maintain order and protect public and private property. A repatriation center originally located in Durban has been relocated to Musina to process foreign nationals from Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Mozambique.
The Police Minister warned that the unrest smacks of political interference, suggesting a “third force” is weaponizing migration protests to influence the upcoming November 4 local government elections. The issue of undocumented migrants taking jobs in construction, manufacturing, and domestic work remains a volatile socio-economic flashpoint for voters facing high unemployment and inequality.
On the international front, the government noted that migration was a key topic during recent diplomatic engagements. President Cyril Ramaphosa discussed the issue with DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, while ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula held extensive talks on migration with Mozambican leaders, including President Daniel Chapo. Government spokespersons maintained that authorities have their “hand on the pulse” of the situation and will thoroughly deal with any protests that threaten national stability ahead of the elections.
