JOHANNESBURG - Deputy President Paul Mashatile said South Africa's diplomatic missions have a responsibility to assist all official visitors abroad.
He said it was normal for diplomats to receive former presidents during overseas visits.
Mashatile was responding to questions about South African High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal's role in Jacob Zuma's visit to the Guptas.
“People who work in the diplomatic space have the responsibility to assist South Africans as we come into countries.
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“I was in India recently, I think two months ago. The very ambassador was there to receive me and make sure that whatever I was coming to do there was taken care of.
“So I guess that he also had to provide the same service to President Zuma for what he was going to do in India. So I don't think it's for us to make any judgments. As a former president, he's got the responsibilities that he's engaging on in different countries, and ambassadors will continue to receive him,” Mashatile said.