Government investigates Zuma’s India trip amid foreign policy concerns

Zuma

Pretoria – International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola has criticised former President Jacob Zuma over his recent visit to India, warning that Zuma appears to be conducting a “parallel foreign policy” without any mandate to represent South Africa.

Lamola’s remarks follow Zuma’s late-June visit to Uttarakhand in northern India, where the former president was photographed alongside Ajay Gupta at the Siddhpeeth Shri Dakshin Kali Mandir in Haridwar.

While there, Zuma said he believed he would return to power.

“I feel I am going to win the elections because the people of God have been with me,” Zuma said in a video circulating on social media.

He added: “I think he has given me some power, he has given me not just some power, but he has given me (inspiration) that I should once again take our people where they are supposed to be.”

Lamola said the government is investigating how Zuma’s trip was facilitated, its purpose, and whether it has any implications under the Foreign Service Act.

The minister stressed that only the sitting president and authorised government representatives may represent South Africa abroad.

“It does impact us negatively that the former head of state will be running a parallel foreign policy to the South African government,” Lamola said.

“When the President of South Africa goes anywhere, he’s mandated through internal procedure of the state and of government. There are processes that are followed. There is a mandate,” he said.

“I myself follow a certain procedure, this mandate, these processes. I’m mandated. I report to the Cabinet and to government. I also account to Parliament. So a former president does not have all those processes. So really, he can’t be representing the South African government anyway.”

While former presidents are entitled to certain diplomatic privileges and protocol assistance, he said these do not extend to conducting foreign policy or speaking on behalf of the government.

He added that Zuma’s recent visits to countries including Uganda, Morocco and India, coupled with his active role in politics, have raised concerns about the implications for South Africa’s foreign policy, and said the government is reviewing how former presidential privileges should be managed in such circumstances.

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