South African Minister Condemns Zuma’s Meeting with Controversial Gupta Brother as “Middle Finger” to Nation]

South African Minister Condemns Zuma’s Meeting with Controversial Gupta Brother as “Middle Finger” to Nation]

Former President Jacob Zuma has been criticized by a South African minister following reports of his meeting with Ajay Gupta, one of the Indian businessmen linked to a major corruption scandal.

Indian media recently shared photographs of Zuma and Ajay Gupta together at an Indian temple.

The Gupta brothers were accused approximately a decade ago of profiting from their close relationships with then-President Zuma and exerting influence over South African policy decisions.

Both parties denied any wrongdoing, and the Gupta family departed South Africa in 2018 after a judicial commission began investigating allegations connected to what became known as “state capture” fraud.

South African authorities subsequently canceled their arrest warrant for Ajay Gupta the following year.

The two younger Gupta brothers, Atul and Rajesh, relocated to the United Arab Emirates where a court in 2023 rejected a South African extradition request.

Cabinet Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni expressed concern during a Friday press briefing, stating it was “very disturbing that a former state president openly and unapologetically shows the middle finger to South Africans who have lost a lot of money through the Gupta brothers’ actions.”

Zuma, a longtime member of the African National Congress (ANC), was removed from office in 2018 amid multiple corruption allegations. He has consistently maintained his innocence.

Following his meeting with Ajay Gupta at the temple in India, the 84-year-old Zuma—who now leads the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party—reportedly declared his intention to seek re-election in South Africa’s upcoming elections.

In response, Ntshavheni reiterated that Zuma “continues to show a middle finger and claim that he wants to run this country again.”

She also condemned the presence of South African High Commissioner to India Anil Sooklal, who accompanied Zuma during the meeting, calling it a “disgrace.”

International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola announced that South Africa will investigate the meeting, adding that it appeared Zuma was operating “a parallel foreign policy.”

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