By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) internal investigation has cleared South Africa’s Ambassador to India, Prof. Anil Sooklal of any wrongdoing following former president Jacob Zuma visit to India.
Sooklal was recalled back to Pretoria for consultation, following his attendance of a religious ceremony in the holy city of Haridwar in the presence of suspected state capture mastermind Ajay Gupta and Zuma.
Zuma’s private visit to India took place from 25 to 27 June 2026.
The incident caused the South African government considerable embarrassment and prompted the Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola to immediately order an investigation.
Ajay Gupta is one of the masterminds behind the state capture in South Africa, which took place under Zuma’s administration.
The Gupta family left South Africa in 2018 after a judicial commission into state capture began investigating allegations that they were involved in massive corruption, known as “state capture”.
In 2022, the commission concluded that Zuma had hired and fired ministers central to the running of the country’s economy at the behest of the Gupta family.
The authorities ended up cancelling their arrest warrant for Ajay Gupta. The two younger Gupta brothers, Atul and Rajesh, went to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where a court in 2023 turned down a South African request to extradite them.
Zuma has since been expelled from the African National Congress (ANC), the party he once led, and now heads the opposition uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK).
According to the department, the investigation found no evidence that Sooklal participated in any private meeting between Zuma and corruption-accused Ajay.
Dirco said the review looked into the assistance the High Commission gave Zuma during the trip and the High Commissioner’s attendance at a religious event in Haridwar, where Gupta was also present.
The department said the Presidency advised it about Zuma’s planned private visit and asked for help with protocol and logistical plans.
This request was handled within approved boundaries. “In accordance with the established practice applicable to all former presidents,” Dirco explained.
The department said it then informed the South African High Commission in New Delhi and asked that the mission provide the “customary protocol support”.
According to Dirco, the High Commission reported that the two men had no substantial engagement.
“The mission did not facilitate any substantive engagement between former President and Ajay Gupta during the visit,” Dirco said.
The department said the help given to Zuma covered only standard courtesies and travel arrangements.
“The assistance rendered formed part of established protocol, administrative and logistical support ordinarily extended to former presidents through official channels, including ceremonial lounge arrangements, airport courtesies, liaison with host government authorities, and related travel facilitation,” Dirco stated.
It also said Sooklal and a designated mission official received Zuma on arrival, in line with standard protocol, and that similar assistance was provided when he departed.
The department said they continue to facilitate cooperation between South African and Indian authorities on legal processes involving the Gupta family.
It has also recommended a new mechanism to assess the potential reputational, political, diplomatic and security risks of similar engagements involving former presidents.