International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola has ordered an investigation into the involvement of a Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) official who was seen accompanying former President Jacob Zuma during his recent visit to India, where he met the Gupta brothers.
The visit has sparked widespread criticism and renewed scrutiny over the relationship between Zuma and the Gupta family, who remain central figures in South Africa’s state capture saga. Images and reports of the meeting have raised questions about whether government resources or diplomatic channels were used to facilitate the trip.
Speaking on the matter, Lamola confirmed that his department had requested a full report from the Director-General to establish the circumstances surrounding the visit and determine the role played by DIRCO and South Africa’s High Commissioner to India.
“I have noted the newspaper reports and the public information, and we have requested information from our Director-General on how the visit happened, the involvement of DIRCO and the High Commissioner in India. The South African High Commissioner, in which capacity and what was the process that was followed?” Lamola said.
The minister acknowledged that former presidents are entitled to certain state-funded privileges, including diplomatic protocol assistance during international travel. However, he stressed that those privileges must be exercised within the limits of the law.
“As you are aware, former presidents are entitled to privileges. Some of their privileges include facilitation through our diplomatic protocol, so we will have to inquire,” he said.
Lamola emphasised that the investigation would seek to determine the purpose of the visit, the extent of official involvement and whether established diplomatic procedures were followed.
“We need to explain this. That is why we are inquiring 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 our High Commissioner in India,” he said.
While recognising the benefits afforded to former heads of state under the Presidential Benefits Act, Lamola cautioned that these do not extend to conducting independent international engagements that could be interpreted as representing South Africa’s foreign policy.
“We must state that while the Presidential Act does allow privileges to flow, as a former president, it does not allow them to run a parallel foreign policy, which seems to be the case now with President Zuma,” Lamola added.
The investigation is expected to clarify whether government officials acted within their mandate and whether any diplomatic protocols were improperly applied during Zuma’s visit to India.