Zuma’s India Meeting with Gupta Triggers Political Firestorm
Former South African president Jacob Zuma met with fugitive businessman Ajay Gupta during a trip to India, according to multiple news outlets. The encounter took place at an event also attended by the South African High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal.
During the visit, Zuma publicly declared his intention to seek office again, a statement that intensified the political reaction to the meeting. His declaration was reported by Africanews as a key factor in the ensuing controversy.
The South African government responded with fierce criticism. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said that Zuma and Sooklal were “showing the middle finger” to South Africans when they appeared alongside the corruption‑accused Gupta. This remark was quoted directly in the Daily Maverick report.
The meeting has reignited public anger over a decade‑old corruption scandal linked to the Gupta family, which had previously been associated with allegations of state capture during Zuma’s presidency. BBC Africa noted that the trip to India revived anger over that long‑standing scandal.
Officials have condemned the encounter as inappropriate and disrespectful to the public. The government’s criticism, as described by Africanews, frames the meeting as a provocation that undermines efforts to address past corruption.
Zuma’s signal that he may run for office again adds a political dimension to the fallout, suggesting that the episode could influence upcoming electoral dynamics. No further details about potential investigations or sanctions were provided in the sources.
The incident continues to be referenced by political figures and commentators as a flashpoint in South Africa’s ongoing debate about accountability and the legacy of the Gupta‑related corruption allegations.
