South Africa plans ex-leader protocol rules

Keypoints:

Former leaders may face mandatory disclosure
Rules apply when diplomatic support is requested
Zuma’s Gupta meeting prompted the proposal

SOUTH Africa has proposed disclosure rules for former presidents and deputy presidents seeking diplomatic support during foreign travel after Jacob Zuma’s controversial visit to India raised concerns about the country’s international reputation.

The proposal would not restrict the private movement of former leaders. Instead, those requesting protocol or diplomatic assistance from the state would have to disclose who is hosting and funding their trips, what meetings are planned and the capacity in which they are travelling.

Protocol gap exposed

International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola announced the recommendation on August 5, 2026, saying it had been submitted to the Presidency and Parliament for consideration.

Under the proposed protocol rules for former South African leaders, applicants would provide the purpose of travel, their programme of activities, funding sources, principal hosts and details of significant engagements.

The information would allow officials to determine the appropriate level of assistance and assess possible reputational, political, diplomatic and security risks, according to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).

The framework follows Zuma’s visit to India on June 26, 2026, when the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party leader was photographed at a Hindu temple with businessman Ajay Gupta and South Africa’s high commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal.

Gupta meeting revives state capture row

BBC News reported that the photograph caused an uproar because of the Gupta family’s central role in allegations surrounding South Africa’s state capture scandal.

Ajay Gupta and his brothers were accused of exploiting their relationship with Zuma during his presidency to influence public appointments and secure government-linked deals. The Gupta family and Zuma have repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

A judicial commission concluded in 2022 that Zuma made ministerial appointments in ways that benefited the family. The findings added momentum to wider corruption investigations involving South Africa’s state-owned enterprises.

South African authorities later cancelled the arrest warrant against Ajay Gupta. His brothers Atul and Rajesh moved to the United Arab Emirates, where a court rejected South Africa’s extradition request in 2023.

Diplomat recalled for consultations

Lamola confirmed that Sooklal had been recalled to Pretoria for consultations.

Sooklal has denied wrongdoing, according to BBC News. DIRCO confirmed his recall but did not announce disciplinary action or suggest that the move amounted to a finding of misconduct.

The episode nevertheless raised questions about whether the presence of a serving diplomat could make Zuma’s private engagements appear to carry official government approval.

Zuma, who was expelled from the African National Congress and now leads the opposition MK Party, remains one of South Africa’s most influential and divisive political figures.

Foreign policy tensions widen

The India visit was not the first time Zuma’s overseas activity had conflicted with Pretoria’s foreign-policy position.

In July 2025, he met Morocco’s foreign minister in Rabat and backed Morocco’s autonomy proposal for Western Sahara, departing from South Africa’s support for Sahrawi self-determination.

DIRCO later objected to the use of the South African flag during the meeting, arguing that the display of national symbols had created a misleading impression about the visit’s official status.

The Morocco episode and the India photograph highlighted the same underlying concern: former leaders can retain international stature long after leaving office, while their private political activities risk being interpreted as extensions of state policy.

What happens next?

The Presidency and Parliament will now consider the recommendation and how any new framework would operate.

Its effectiveness will depend on whether disclosure becomes a condition for receiving state assistance and whether diplomats are given clear guidance when former leaders travel in political, commercial or private capacities.

The proposal therefore extends beyond Zuma’s conduct. It seeks to establish a visible boundary between the activities of former office-holders and the constitutional authority of South Africa’s elected government.