By Victor Fanuel
PRETORIA — South Africa’s government has sharply criticised former president Jacob Zuma following his recent meeting with the Gupta family in India, accusing him of undermining the country’s foreign policy, criminal justice system and ongoing efforts to extradite the fugitive brothers to face corruption-related charges.
Speaking during a media briefing on Friday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni described Zuma’s actions as deeply concerning, saying they sent the wrong message while authorities continued to pursue the return of the Gupta brothers, who remain central figures in South Africa’s state capture investigations.
Ntshavheni also criticised the reported conduct of South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Ambassador Anil Sooklal, saying government representatives stationed abroad were expected to uphold the country’s laws and support efforts to bring wanted individuals to justice.
“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 the fugitives are brought back into South Africa so that they can face criminal charges,” Ntshavheni said.
She confirmed that Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola had requested a full report into the matter and warned that government would take appropriate action if any officials were found to have acted contrary to South Africa’s legal obligations.
Ntshavheni also revealed that the government is reviewing the privileges afforded to former presidents, saying such benefits could be reconsidered if they were used in ways that undermine the country’s laws.
“Government is entitled to review such privileges if they are abused to undermine the laws of this republic,” she said.
The minister argued that Zuma’s latest actions reflected what she described as a broader pattern of conduct that had weakened South Africa’s institutions, foreign policy and legal processes.
“This is not the first instance in relation to this particular former state president that he undermines not only the foreign policy of the country but also the laws of the country,” Ntshavheni said.
She further accused Ambassador Sooklal of undermining public confidence in the country’s justice system.
“The messaging is very wrong from Ambassador Anil Sooklal because he’s directly undermining the criminal justice system of this country and showing a middle finger to South Africans who pay his salary instead of him performing his tasks as required by the laws of this country,” she said.
Ntshavheni said it was particularly troubling that Zuma continued to engage with the Gupta family despite the financial and institutional damage attributed to the state capture era.
“We have lost a lot of money through the Gupta brothers’ shenanigans in our country, and he continues to show the middle finger and claims that he wants to run this country again. It shows the type of person he is, and it’s for South Africans to judge,” she added.
The Gupta brothers remain wanted by South African authorities in connection with multiple corruption allegations arising from the state capture inquiry.
Previous attempts to extradite them from the United Arab Emirates were unsuccessful, with South African authorities continuing efforts to secure their return.
