The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) says its investigation into former President Jacob Zuma’s private visit to India in June found no evidence that South Africa’s High Commission facilitated meetings between Zuma and businessman Ajay Gupta.
The department said the High Commission provided Zuma with routine protocol and logistical support normally extended to former South African presidents visiting the country.
According to DIRCO, High Commissioner Anil Sooklal attended a religious event in Haridwar after receiving a separate invitation and did not accompany either Zuma or Gupta.
The department said Sooklal also reported having no direct interaction with Gupta during the visit.
DIRCO’s findings follow calls for greater clarity over Zuma’s trip and whether South African diplomatic officials had played a role in facilitating engagements involving the former president and Gupta.
The department said its consultations had not uncovered evidence that the High Commission arranged or facilitated meetings between the two men.
However, DIRCO said the matter had highlighted the need for stronger safeguards around visits and engagements involving former senior state officials.
It has recommended the establishment of a mechanism that would allow the state to assess such engagements for potential reputational, political, diplomatic and security risks.
The proposed mechanism is intended to ensure that appropriate considerations are made when former presidents or other high-profile South Africans undertake private engagements that could have implications for the country’s diplomatic interests.
DIRCO said the latest recommendations would help strengthen oversight and ensure that similar engagements are appropriately assessed in future.