Government calls former president’s actions a “middle finger” to citizens who lost billions in state capture scandal
The South African government has strongly condemned former President Jacob Zuma for meeting in India with Ajay Gupta, one of the brothers accused of orchestrating the massive “state capture” corruption scandal that drained billions from state coffers during Zuma’s tenure.
In a fiery media briefing on Friday, Cabinet Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni described the meeting as “very disturbing,” saying the 84-year-old former leader “openly and unapologetically shows the middle finger to South Africans who have lost a lot of money through the Gupta brothers’ shenanigans.”
The controversy deepened after video footage emerged showing Zuma at a temple in Haridwar with Ajay Gupta, whom he called a “brother and friend.” In the same video, Zuma suggested he would seek re-election, despite being forced from office in 2018 amid corruption allegations.
“He continues to show a middle finger and claim that he wants to run this country again,” Ntshavheni said.
Government Launches Inquiry
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola has initiated an official inquiry into the visit, accusing Zuma of running a “parallel foreign policy.” The government also expressed outrage that South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, accompanied Zuma to the meeting.
The Gupta Scandal
The three Indian-born Gupta brothers Ajay, Atul, and Rajesh built a sprawling business empire in South Africa before fleeing following a 2018 judicial commission investigation into “state capture.”
A 2016 anti-corruption watchdog report alleged the brothers paid bribes to influence ministerial appointments and plunder state organs. Ajay Gupta was declared a fugitive in 2018, though charges were dropped the following year. The younger brothers, Atul and Rajesh, fled to the UAE, where a court rejected South Africa’s extradition request in 2023.
Political Context
Zuma, who served as president from 2009 to 2018, now leads the opposition Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party. South Africa holds local government elections in November 2026, with the next presidential election scheduled for 2029.
