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South Africa denounces Jacob Zuma’s India visit after meeting Ajay Gupta, saying it undermines state and law
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

International/The Apex Times/Jul 3, 11:49 AM EDT

South Africa denounces Jacob Zuma’s India visit after meeting Ajay Gupta, saying it undermines state and law

Cabinet minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni criticized the former president for meeting a Gupta brother accused in South Africa’s long-running “state capture” scandal, and said the government would pursue action involving the diplomat who accompanied him.

3 min readEditor-approved Apex article

Former South African President Jacob Zuma is facing renewed political and legal backlash after a trip to India where he met Ajay Gupta, an Indian businessman accused in South Africa’s decade-old corruption scandal, according to South African officials and reports of a photo showing Zuma together with Gupta at a temple in India. In a statement carried by multiple outlets, Cabinet minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the meeting was “very disturbing” and described it as Zuma “openly and unapologetically” showing a “middle finger” to South Africans who, she said, lost money through the alleged Gupta-linked conduct during Zuma’s presidency.

South Africa’s “state capture” allegations centered on claims that the Gupta brothers used their ties to influence government policy and siphon state assets. Both the Guptas and Zuma have previously denied wrongdoing, and Zuma has insisted he is innocent of the allegations. Zuma was forced out of office in 2018 amid a string of corruption allegations, and later proceedings associated with a judicial commission began investigating claims that the Guptas were involved in massive fraud.

According to the BBC, Zuma’s meeting in India reignited anger partly because Ajay Gupta has long been accused in connection with the scandal and because the case remains politically charged inside South Africa. The report said South African authorities canceled an arrest warrant for Ajay Gupta the year after Zuma’s departure from office. It also noted that Gupta family members have continued to challenge South African efforts to bring them to justice abroad, including decisions connected to extradition attempts involving Zuma-era Gupta-related cases.

Ntshavheni addressed the controversy in a press briefing on Friday, arguing that Zuma’s India trip was a direct affront to South Africans affected by what the minister called the Guptas’ “shenanigans.” The BBC reported that Ntshavheni said Zuma “continues to show a middle finger and claim that he wants to run this country again,” after Zuma reportedly told others following the meeting that he would seek re-election in South Africa’s next elections. She also called the episode a “disgrace,” and accused the South African High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, of accompanying Zuma.

Additional South African reporting said Ntshavheni described Sooklal’s presence as improper and indicated that the diplomat could face consequences. The Daily Maverick reported that Ntshavheni said the government would take action after the high commissioner’s involvement. News24 similarly described Ntshavheni’s criticism of the diplomatic accompaniment and characterized the minister’s remarks as part of the government’s formal condemnation of Zuma’s India engagement with Ajay Gupta.

Zuma now heads the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, and the controversy is playing out amid continuing disputes over accountability for the alleged “state capture” network. The renewed dispute also intersects with the broader diplomatic issue of how South Africa handles interactions with individuals sought in relation to criminal allegations, especially when meetings are documented publicly while earlier legal steps have been contested or reversed.

For South Africa, the practical next steps appear to focus on internal accountability and compliance with foreign-service expectations. The minister’s comments, as reported, point to potential disciplinary or administrative action related to the diplomat who traveled with Zuma, while the government’s wider position is that the meeting undermines national interests and the legitimacy of ongoing efforts to investigate allegations tied to the Gupta era. Zuma’s defense, and whether any legal or administrative processes will follow the minister’s remarks, will likely be closely watched by parties and institutions involved in the state-capture legacy.

Why It Matters

  • The episode tests how South Africa balances diplomatic protocol, public messaging, and accountability when politically prominent figures engage with individuals accused in major corruption cases.
  • Public backlash can increase pressure on South African authorities to clarify what actions are taken when high-level officials or diplomats are seen accompanying contested figures abroad.
  • The minister’s threat of consequences for the diplomat underscores institutional accountability within South Africa’s foreign service and could affect future travel and representation decisions.
  • Because Zuma’s remarks, as reported, connect the meeting to talk of a political comeback, the controversy may shape public perceptions of ongoing efforts to resolve the “state capture” legacy.
  • The dispute remains tied to the legal status of Gupta-related cases, including changes to arrest warrants and contested extradition efforts, which can complicate enforcement across borders.

Sources

Key Facts

  • South African Cabinet minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni criticized former President Jacob Zuma for meeting Ajay Gupta in India, saying Zuma was “showing the middle finger” to South Africans affected by alleged Gupta-era wrongdoing.
  • A photograph of Zuma and Ajay Gupta at a temple in India was reported by Indian media and cited in South African government criticism.
  • Ntshavheni said it was “very disturbing” that Zuma met Gupta despite South Africans’ losses linked to the Gupta brothers’ alleged influence.
  • The minister criticized the South African High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, saying it was a “disgrace” that he accompanied Zuma, and said action may be taken.
  • The BBC reported Zuma reportedly said he would seek re-election in South Africa’s next elections after meeting Gupta.
  • The “state capture” allegations dating back about a decade include claims that the Gupta brothers profited from close ties to Zuma and influenced policy; both parties denied wrongdoing.
  • The BBC reported that South African authorities canceled an arrest warrant for Ajay Gupta, and that extradition efforts involving other Gupta brothers have faced legal setbacks abroad.