HARIDWAR — South Africa's government has launched an inquiry into former President Jacob Zuma's recent visit to Haridwar, India, where he met with Ajay Gupta. A photograph showed Zuma and Gupta together at a temple in Haridwar, and Anil Sooklal accompanied Zuma during the encounter.

The meeting occurred while Ajay Gupta was considered a fugitive; he was declared a fugitive in 2018, though charges against him were later withdrawn. In a video, Zuma referred to Gupta as a "brother and friend."

Cabinet Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni stated that it was "very disturbing that a former state president openly and unapologetically shows the middle finger to South Africans who have lost a lot of money through the Gupta brothers' shenanigans." Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said that "it seemed Zuma was running a parallel foreign policy."

Zuma served as president of South Africa from 2009 until his resignation in 2018. A 2016 report by South Africa's anti-corruption watchdog accused the Gupta family of bribing officials, influencing cabinet appointments, and exploiting state institutions for financial gain during Zuma's presidency. Atul Gupta and Rajesh Gupta, other members of the family, remain in the United Arab Emirates after a court rejected South Africa's extradition request for them in 2023.

Zuma, who is 84 years old, leads the Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party. He said, "I decided to take a decision to retake the country forward. I am contesting." South Africa is preparing for local government elections later this year, with the next presidential election scheduled for 2029.

Why It Matters

The meeting between former President Jacob Zuma and Ajay Gupta has prompted an official inquiry regarding the influence of the Gupta family. This event takes place as South Africa approaches local government elections and with a presidential election scheduled for 2029, a period during which Zuma has indicated his continued political involvement through the MK party.

The 2016 anti-corruption report detailed allegations of the Gupta family's influence during Zuma's presidency, including bribery and manipulation of state institutions. The fact that two members of the Gupta family, Atul and Rajesh Gupta, remain outside South African jurisdiction following a rejected extradition request in 2023 indicates the unresolved nature of these past allegations, adding a layer of scrutiny to the recent encounter in India.