South Africa recalls envoy from India over meeting with Zuma and Gupta

The South African government has recalled its High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, for “consultations” after he attended a meeting with former President Jacob Zuma and businessman Ajay Gupta, who faces corruption charges in South Africa. The meeting took place in Haridwar, India, on June 26, and photographs of the event were subsequently circulated widely in South African media.

Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola confirmed the recall, saying Sooklal had been called back for consultations. The foreign ministry did not provide additional details, but the move follows public scrutiny of the envoy’s participation in the meeting.

The Gupta brothers — Ajay, Atul, and Rajesh — are accused of political corruption and of exerting undue influence over government decisions during Zuma’s presidency from 2009 to 2018. Zuma himself faced allegations of extending favours to the family, including allowing them to influence cabinet appointments and secure state contracts. Both Zuma and the Guptas have consistently denied all allegations.

After Zuma was forced to resign by the African National Congress in 2018, the Gupta brothers left South Africa. South African authorities have since issued arrest warrants for them in connection with charges of fraud, money laundering, and corruption. The brothers are believed to have moved between several countries, including India and the United Arab Emirates. Interpol has been involved in efforts to track them, but they have not been extradited to South Africa.

Ajay Gupta’s presence in India has been a matter of legal and diplomatic interest. The Indian government has not commented publicly on his status or on South Africa’s extradition requests. Reports suggest that the Gupta family still maintains business interests in India, which is their country of origin.

The meeting in Haridwar, a city in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, has raised questions about the conduct of a serving diplomat. While a diplomatic recall is a standard procedure to review an envoy’s actions, it also signals that the government is taking the matter seriously. The South African foreign ministry has not explained what prompted the recall or what specific concerns were raised.

The Gupta family built a vast business empire in South Africa after the end of apartheid, with interests in mining, media, technology, and aviation. They are accused of using their relationship with Zuma to secure lucrative contracts and influence state-owned enterprises such as Eskom, the power utility, and Transnet, the freight and logistics company. In 2022, the Zondo Commission, appointed to investigate state capture, concluded that Zuma allowed the Guptas to influence his government. Zuma has dismissed the commission’s findings as politically motivated.

South African media have reported that Sooklal attended the meeting in Haridwar as part of a private visit by Zuma to India. However, no official details have been given about the purpose of the meeting. The foreign ministry has said only that Sooklal was recalled for consultations and that further steps would be decided after his return.

The incident comes as President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration has sought to distance itself from the corruption scandals of the Zuma era. Ramaphosa, who took office in 2018, has promised to restore the integrity of state institutions. The recall of an envoy for meeting with Zuma and Gupta could be seen as an attempt to demonstrate that the government is vigilant about such associations.

The diplomatic implications for India and South Africa are significant. Both countries are partners in the BRICS grouping, the G20, and the Commonwealth. Bilateral trade has grown in recent years, and South Africa is an important destination for Indian investment. The recall is unlikely to disrupt these ties, but it underscores the sensitivity around the Gupta case.

The situation is still developing. Sooklal is expected to return to South Africa to explain his participation in the meeting. The outcome of the consultations will determine whether any disciplinary action is taken or whether the matter is closed. Both governments have so far remained tight-lipped about the specifics, leaving many questions unanswered.