South Africa's Foreign Affairs Minister Ronald Lamola has recommended new rules for former heads of state undertaking foreign trips, following controversy over ex-President Jacob Zuma's recent visit to India. The meeting between Zuma and Ajay Gupta, accused of profiting from their ties to Zuma, sparked outrage, with one minister saying Zuma was showing "disrespect" to South Africa. Lamola stated that the new protocols would require former heads of state to provide detailed information about their upcoming trips to ensure an "informed assessment" of associated risks. This is not the first time Zuma's foreign visits have caused controversy, with his 2022 trip to Morocco also sparking a diplomatic protest from South Africa.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
South Africa's foreign minister is proposing new rules to increase transparency around former leaders' international trips, following a recent visit by former President Jacob Zuma to India that sparked controversy. Zuma met with Ajay Gupta, a businessman implicated in a major corruption scandal that contributed to the downfall of his government. The scandal, known as "state capture," involved allegations that the Gupta family used their close ties to Zuma to influence South African policy and profit from it. Zuma's meeting with Gupta was seen as a rebuke to the South African government, with one minister calling it a "middle finger" to the country. The proposed new rules would require former leaders to provide detailed information about their trips, including potential risks associated with them. This move comes after a judicial commission concluded in 2022 that Zuma had hired and fired ministers at the behest of the Gupta family.
Written for “Zuma Foreign Trip Controversy” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The language used to describe Zuma's actions, such as 'showing the middle finger' to South Africa, suggests a critical tone towards the former president. Additionally, the article highlights several instances of controversy surrounding his foreign visits, including his support for Morocco's claim over Western Sahara, which is opposed by South Africa.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score +0.45 for article 584 · logged 2026-08-06
- Published
South Africa's foreign minister wants new rules and "more transparency" to apply to former heads of state undertaking foreign trips.
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rules → publish → trips
The recommendation to parliament follows a controversial visit to India last month by ex-President Jacob Zuma where he met one of the businessmen allegedly at the heart of a huge corruption scandal that played a role in bringing down his government.
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that → follow → government
The uproar over his meeting with Ajay Gupta prompted one minister to say that Zuma was showing the "middle finger" to South Africa.
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Zuma → prompt → Africa
Around a decade ago, the Gupta brothers were accused of profiting from their close links to then-President Zuma and influencing South African policy.
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brothers → accuse → policy
Both parties denied wrongdoing.
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parties → deny → wrongdoing
The Gupta family left South Africa in 2018 after a judicial commission began investigating allegations they were involved in massive fraud, known as "state capture".
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they → leave → capture
In 2022, the commission concluded that Zuma had hired and fired ministers central to the running of the country's economy at the behest of the Gupta family.
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Zuma → conclude → family
The South African authorities ended up cancelling their arrest warrant for Ajay Gupta.
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authorities → end → Gupta
The two younger Gupta brothers, Atul and Rajesh, went to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where a court in 2023 turned down a South African request to extradite them
Zuma has since been expelled from the African National Congress (ANC), the party he once led, and now heads the opposition uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK).
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he → go → uMkhonto
During Zuma's visit to India, a photograph of the 84-year-old South African politician and Ajay Gupta was taken at an Indian temple.
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photograph → take → temple
South Africa's high commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, was also pictured with the duo and he has since been recalled.
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he → picture → duo
The diplomat has denied any wrongdoing.
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diplomat → deny → wrongdoing
Foreign Affairs Minister Ronald Lamola said that his department had submitted a recommendation to parliament and the president's office for new protocols for former heads of state during foreign trips.
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department → say → trips
They would have to "provide full details" on the upcoming trip for "an informed assessment of the appropriate level of support required and any associated reputational, political, diplomatic or security risks", he said at a briefing on Wednesday.
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he → have → Wednesday
This is not the first time Zuma's foreign visits have caused controversy.
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visits → cause → controversy
Last year, he visited Morocco and spoke in support of the North African nation's claim over the disputed territory of Western Sahara - something South Africa opposes.
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Africa → visit → Sahara
Zuma undertook the trip as MK leader but was pictured in front of the South African flag when he met Morocco's foreign minister and brought up Western Sahara.
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he → undertake → Sahara
South Africa condemned the visit and raised a formal diplomatic protest about it with Morocco.
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Africa → condemn → Morocco
