Zuma’s Meeting with Gupta Sparks Political Outcry in South Africa

Sun Sep 06 2026 03:35:36 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Former President Jacob Zuma’s recent encounter with Indian businessman Ajay Gupta ignites political backlash, raising concerns over state capture and governance.

Former President Jacob Zuma met Ajay Gupta, a key figure in the Gupta family alleged corruption scandal, at an Indian temple. The meeting, filmed by Indian media, has prompted South African ministers to label Zuma’s actions as a “middle finger” against the country. Critics say the event signals a lingering influence of the Gupta brothers and undermines the integrity of South Africa’s democracy. Concerns are mounted that Zuma’s possible candidacy for future elections could revive the same patronage networks that once led to state capture. The government has announced an investigation into the incident, warning it may reveal another clandestine foreign policy strand.

Zuma’s Meeting with Gupta Sparks Political Outcry in South Africa

Former President Jacob Zuma’s recent encounter with Indian businessman Ajay Gupta at an Indian temple has set off a wave of condemnation across South Africa’s political landscape. The photo, shared by Indian media, shows Zuma sitting beside Gupta in a temple setting, a gesture that a cabinet minister described as a “middle finger” to the nation.

The Gupta brothers, long accused of exploiting their close ties to Zuma for personal gain, were central figures in South Africa’s so‑called state capture scandal. Although authorities cleared their arrest warrants in 2019, the family has remained a contentious symbol of corruption. Witnesses to the meeting report that the South African High Commissioner to India joined the discussion – a move the minister called a disgrace.

Zuma, who now leads the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, has publicly stated his intention to run for re‑election in South Africa’s upcoming polls. Critics fear that such a bid could revive the patronage network that once guided Zuma’s tenure and destabilised policymaking in key sectors, including the state utility Eskom.

In response, the government has announced an investigation aimed at determining whether the meeting represented a “parallel foreign policy” that bypassed official diplomatic channels. International relations minister Ronald Lamola warned that this could undermine public trust in the nation's governance systems.

For more on the Guptas’ alleged influence, see the Zondo report on Jacob Zuma or read about South Africa’s election results here.
Zuma meeting Ajay Gupta