JOHANNESBURG – "A level of disgrace" and a "middle finger" to South Africans paying his salary.
Government has slammed South Africa's High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, after he was seen accompanying former president Jacob Zuma and alleged state capture architect Ajay Gupta during Zuma's recent trip to India, accusing him of undermining the country's criminal justice system.
Speaking at a briefing on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on 2 July 2026, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Minister in the Presidency, confirmed that South Africa had submitted a request for mutual legal assistance to secure the return of the fugitive Gupta brothers.
"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 of ensuring that the fugitives are brought back into South Africa so they can face justice for their criminal acts," Ntshavheni said.
READ | 'A slap in the face for South Africans': Zuma and Gupta reunion
The trip, which reportedly took place in late June, is now the subject of an investigation by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
"Minister Lamola has not only requested a report from the official but has indicated that drastic steps will be taken to ensure that nobody undermines the laws of this country while representing South Africa," Ntshavheni said.
She said the government was entitled to review the privileges extended to former presidents if those privileges were used to undermine the country's laws.
Ntshavheni added that while the government did not currently have access to the overseas travel itineraries of former presidents, that policy would be reviewed.
"We are very clear: the messaging is wrong, both from Ambassador Sooklal, through his conduct, because he directly undermined the criminal justice system of this country and showed a middle finger to South Africans who pay his salary instead of performing his duties as required."
Ntshavheni also said it was disturbing that Zuma could openly and unapologetically show a "middle finger" to South Africans who lost billions of rand through state capture.
"Yet he claims that he wants to run this country again. It shows the type of person he is, and it is for South Africans to judge."