In brief
Jacob Zuma, the former president of South Africa, was photographed standing with Ajay Gupta at an Indian temple, igniting fresh allegations that the former leader is still linked to the Gupta family's corruption scandal. Cabinet minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni blasted the meeting as a "middle‑finger" gesture toward South Africans who suffered under state capture. Zuma, who now heads the uMkhonto weSizwe party, has suggested he will run in the upcoming elections, raising concerns about a private foreign policy. South Africa’s international relations minister has said authorities will investigate the encounter, pointing to the broader ramifications for the country’s political future.
Former South African president Jacob Zuma emerged in a photo with Ajay Gupta at an Indian temple, stirring fresh controversy over the former leader’s ties to the Gupta family's alleged corruption.
Cabinet minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni called the encounter a “middle‑finger” to South Africans who suffered during the state‑capture crisis, saying the gesture was “very disturbing.”
Zuma, who now heads the uMkhonto weSizwe party, has reportedly signalled his intention to run in the next national elections, sparking concerns that the former president is pursuing a parallel foreign policy agenda.
International relations minister Ronald Lamola announced an investigation into the meeting, highlighting the implications for the country's political climate and the legacy of the Gupta scandal.
The meeting, and the subsequent statements, have reignited debates about the reach of the Gupta family’s influence and the long‑term effects of state capture on South Africa’s democratic institutions.
