South Africa clears High Commissioner Anil Sooklal of misconduct

South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has cleared High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, following an investigation into former President Jacob Zuma’s private visit to India in late June 2026.

The review addressed concerns regarding Sooklal’s presence at a religious gathering in Haridwar where Ajay Gupta, a businessman implicated in state capture allegations, was also in attendance. DIRCO stated that Sooklal attended the event independently as Head of Mission following a separate invitation from organizers and reported no direct interaction with Gupta.

Regarding Zuma’s travel, DIRCO confirmed the High Commission provided customary logistical support and protocol assistance, such as airport lounge access, which is standard for former heads of state. The department concluded that the mission did not facilitate or arrange any private meetings between Zuma and Gupta. Moving forward, DIRCO recommended implementing a formal risk-assessment framework to evaluate future diplomatic engagements of this nature.