In brief
Former President Jacob Zuma has been photographed meeting Ajay Gupta, one of the Gupta brothers at the centre of South Africa’s state‑capture scandal. The meeting, staged in an Indian temple, was witnessed by the South African High Commissioner, sparking calls for a fresh investigation. Cabinet minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni blasted Zuma’s actions as a public insult to the nation, while Zuma – now leading the U.Mkhonto weSizwe party – reportedly vowed to stand for election again. The incident threatens to reignite political tensions and could intensify scrutiny over past corruption ties between Zuma and the Guptas.
In an emerging episode of South Africa’s post‑apartheid political saga, former president Jacob Zuma was photographed meeting Ajay Gupta—one of the Gupta brothers accused of manipulating state affairs—in a quiet Indian temple. The image, which has gone viral on social media, shows the two men together, a moment that many see as a brazen display of defiance.
The meeting gained particular attention because it was attended by the South African High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, implying that the encounter carried diplomatic undertones. Zuma, now 84, and head of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, reportedly declared his intention to stand for election in the country’s next polls.
Cabinet minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni immediately condemned what she described as Zuma’s “middle finger” gesture toward the nation. She added that the act was a disgrace, especially with the high commissioner present. The South African Parliament has urged a fresh investigation into the circumstances surrounding the meeting, citing concerns that Zuma may be running a parallel foreign policy.
The outing follows decades of controversy regarding the Gupta brothers’ alleged influence over Zuma’s presidency, including the removal of Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene in 2015. The Zondo Commission’s report in 2022 confirmed that Zuma had hired and fired ministers at the Guptas’ behest, and highlighted corruption within state-owned Eskom.
Should the investigation lead to new findings, it could rekindle the debate over state capture and potentially affect the upcoming electoral landscape in South Africa. Meanwhile, Zuma remains unapologetic, hinting that his long‑term ambitions are still alive.
