Former South African President Jacob Zuma was pictured meeting Ajay Gupta in India. A South African minister has condemned this meeting after the Gupta family was linked to a large corruption scandal.
A photograph of Zuma and Ajay Gupta at an Indian temple circulated in Indian media this week. This encounter has triggered strong reactions within South Africa. The Gupta brothers were accused of using their close ties to then-President Zuma to influence South African policy and gain unfair profits about ten years ago.
This development fits into broader concerns about corruption and governance in South Africa. The 'state capture' scandal involved allegations that the Gupta family exerted undue influence over government decisions and state-owned companies. This led to significant financial losses for the country and public distrust in state institutions. This event also highlights ongoing challenges in holding powerful figures accountable for alleged economic crimes.
Cabinet Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni stated on Friday that it was “very disturbing that a former state president openly and unapologetically shows the middle finger to South Africans who have lost a lot of money through the Gupta brothers' shenanigans.” Zuma, who leads the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, also reportedly said he would seek re-election. Ntshavheni questioned Zuma’s continued political ambitions amidst these serious allegations.
The meeting could lead to new investigations and political pressure on Zuma and his party. International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola announced that South Africa would investigate the meeting. Lamola suggested that Zuma might be running “a parallel foreign policy,” which raises questions about national security and diplomatic protocols. This incident might also influence public opinion and future election outcomes as the nation grapples with its political past and economic challenges.
The Gupta brothers left South Africa in 2018 after a judicial commission began investigating state capture allegations. South African authorities cancelled an arrest warrant for Ajay Gupta the following year. In 2023, a court in the United Arab Emirates denied South Africa’s request to extradite Atul and Rajesh Gupta. The commission investigating state capture concluded in 2022 that Zuma had appointed and dismissed ministers at the Gupta family’s request. This included the 2015 firing of Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene. Nene reportedly refused to comply with the Guptas' demands. The commission also detailed widespread corruption at Eskom, the state electricity utility, with key executives installed by the Guptas. Zuma was forced from office in 2018 following numerous corruption allegations connected to the Guptas. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Zuma's MK party secured about 15% of the vote in the 2024 elections. This election marked the first time the African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority since 1994. The minister also called it a “disgrace” that the South African high commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, accompanied Zuma to the meeting. This implies potential complicity or a lack of judgment from a top diplomatic official. The ongoing fallout from the state capture allegations continues to affect South Africa’s political and economic landscape, impacting investor confidence and public trust in governance.