South African High Commissioner to India recalled after Zuma visit to Guptas
The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, announced on Wednesday that the High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, has been recalled to South Africa for 'consultations.'
This comes shortly after former President Jacob Zuma visited the country, where he met with the fugitive businessman Ajay Gupta.
At the time, Lamola said the visit was concerning, and that he requested an investigation into Sooklal's involvement.
Lamola said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has submitted a recommendation to parliament and the presidency to review the protocol and diplomatic support extended to former presidents and deputy presidents on foreign trips.
"As part of this framework, the Presidency and DIRCO jointly establish a mandatory disclosure mechanism requiring former Presidents and Deputy Presidents seeking protocol and diplomatic support to provide full details of the purpose of travel, programme of activities, sources of funding, principal hosts, key engagements and the capacity in which they will be travelling, to enable an informed assessment of the appropriate level of support required and any associated reputational, political, diplomatic or security risks," said Lamola.
He said this would prevent situations where former presidents portray themselves as representatives of South Africa, particularly when they have not been mandated by the sitting head of state.
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