Government to probe Zuma’s India trip after Gupta meeting

International Relations Minister, Ronald Lamola, says government will investigate former President Jacob Zuma’s recent trip to India after he was seen meeting with controversial businessman and fugitive, Ajay Gupta.

A video showing Zuma alongside South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal and Gupta at a temple surfaced this week, sparking renewed criticism over the former president’s overseas visit.

Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting in Pretoria with Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, on Thursday, Lamola said the government would establish the circumstances surrounding the visit.

“Former presidents are entitled to their privileges, and some of those include facilitation through our diplomatic protocols. We will have to enquire to find out how this happened, what informs it, what was the nature of the visit, and what was the nature of the involvement of the high commissioner in India,” said Lamola. 

Lamola stressed that while former heads of state enjoy certain privileges, “it does not allow them to run a parallel foreign policy.”

According to Indian media, Zuma said he travelled to India to visit a longtime friend in his hometown of Saharanpur, visiting a Hindu temple for religious reasons.

Zuma’s party, the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, has defended his visit, insisting there was nothing controversial about the trip.

However, the visit has drawn sharp criticism from his political counterparts.

Addressing the media on Thursday, African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, slammed Zuma for travelling abroad during the height of anti-illegal immigration protests in the country. 

“When people were in the streets marching on the 30th, Zuma was in India with the Guptas, having a great time, with people who have stolen from us. He goes to India arrogantly and even releases a video,” Mbalula said.  

Meanwhile, Zuma expressed confidence that his party would return him to power.

“I feel I am going to win the elections.”

Gedleyihlekisa went to go meet with the Guptas who are fugitives of the law in South Africa. Spitting in the face of our law enforcement agencies. Instead of partying up a storm with runaway criminals, Jacob Zuma should inform the government where are these people who almost… pic.twitter.com/aKthbN8Csl

— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) July 1, 2026

This is Jacob Zuma, the former President of South Africa, whose political party, MK, has been encouraging South Africans to chase not only undocumented immigrants out of the country, but even black Africans who are legally living and working in South Africa. His campaign vehicles… pic.twitter.com/PX4gnBVwId

— Hopewell Chin’ono (@daddyhope) June 30, 2026

Is it only Floyd who must get criticized for visiting a fugitive 🤔😭😭 pic.twitter.com/yNiUq2JcW4

— Ma-Sello-Do (@_Masedo_) July 1, 2026