South Africa’s government has proposed new rules requiring former heads of state to provide greater transparency when undertaking foreign trips.
The recommendation follows controversy over former President Jacob Zuma’s recent visit to India, where he met businessman Ajay Gupta, a central figure in South Africa’s state capture scandal.
A photograph from the visit showed Zuma and Gupta together at a temple alongside South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal.
Sooklal has since been recalled to South Africa but has denied any wrongdoing.
Foreign Affairs Minister Ronald Lamola said his department had submitted proposals to parliament and the presidency aimed at establishing clearer protocols for former heads of state travelling abroad.
Under the proposed measures, former presidents would be required to provide full details of planned visits so authorities could assess the level of official support required, as well as any potential political, diplomatic, reputational or security risks.
Zuma’s meeting with Gupta drew criticism from members of the government, with questions raised over whether the visit could damage South Africa’s international reputation.
The Gupta family was accused of using its close relationship with Zuma during his presidency to influence government appointments and secure lucrative state contracts.
Both Zuma and the Gupta family have consistently denied wrongdoing.
The Guptas left South Africa in 2018 as investigations into state capture intensified.
A judicial commission later concluded that Zuma had appointed and dismissed senior government ministers at the family’s request, including ministers responsible for key areas of the economy.
South African authorities later cancelled an arrest warrant for Ajay Gupta.
His brothers, Atul and Rajesh Gupta, relocated to the United Arab Emirates, where a court rejected South Africa’s request for their extradition in 2023.
Zuma was expelled from the African National Congress and now leads the opposition uMkhonto we Sizwe Party.
His foreign activities have previously caused controversy.
In 2025, Zuma travelled to Morocco and publicly supported Rabat’s claim over Western Sahara, contradicting South Africa’s longstanding support for the territory’s right to self-determination.
Although he undertook the visit as MK leader, Zuma was photographed alongside Morocco’s foreign minister in front of a South African flag.
The South African government condemned the visit and lodged a formal diplomatic protest with Morocco.
The proposed protocols are intended to clarify the status of former presidents during overseas visits and prevent private political engagements from being interpreted as representing the official position of the South African government.
