South Africa Recalls High Commissioner to India Following Gupta Links

The recall follows reports that Sooklal accompanied Zuma during a visit to the Siddhpeeth Shri Dakshin Kali Mandir in June. Swami Kailashanand Giri, who hosted the delegation, confirmed that Zuma and Gupta—a central figure in South Africa’s "state capture" corruption investigations—maintained personal ties. The incident raised alarms regarding potential reputational and security risks, prompting the government to tighten its oversight of former leaders traveling abroad.

To prevent future lapses, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation has proposed a mandatory disclosure mechanism. Former presidents and deputy presidents must now provide full itineraries, funding sources, and host details before receiving state protocol support. Lamola emphasized that these measures ensure that former officials do not inadvertently project themselves as representatives of South Africa’s official foreign policy without a mandate from the sitting president. Sooklal, a former G20 and BRICS sherpa, now faces scrutiny over his proximity to individuals accused of exerting undue influence over state contracts during the Zuma administration.