South Africa's government has sharply criticized former president Jacob Zuma after images circulated showing him in India with Ajay Gupta, a figure tied to the corruption and influence scandal that marked Zuma's years in power.
The images, including a photograph and a video shared on social media, show the 84-year-old former head of state beside Gupta at a temple in Haridwar, a sacred city on the Ganges River. In the footage, Zuma refers to Gupta as a "brother and friend" and suggests he may be prepared to seek national leadership again.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni described the encounter as deeply disturbing, arguing that millions of South Africans had lived with the consequences of the Gupta brothers' actions. The government has begun checks into the visit.
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola also criticized Zuma, accusing him of pursuing a form of parallel foreign policy. The Gupta brothers, who are of Indian origin, built a major business empire in South Africa during Zuma's presidency.
A 2016 anti-corruption office report and later judicial inquiries said the brothers used their close political relationships to influence ministerial appointments and secure improper advantages in state-owned entities. The allegations became central to the "state capture" scandal, which contributed to Zuma's fall from power in 2018.
Ajay Gupta was declared a fugitive in 2018, although charges against him were later dropped. His brothers Atul and Rajesh moved to the United Arab Emirates, where a court in 2023 rejected an extradition request from Pretoria.
Zuma, who served as South Africa's president from 2009 to 2018, now leads the opposition party Umkhonto we Sizwe. His appearance with Ajay Gupta has reopened political tensions around accountability, influence and the unresolved legacy of the state capture era.
