South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, has returned to his post following a meeting with senior DIRCO officials over former president Jacob Zuma’s controversial visit to that country in June.
Following the visit, questions over his presence at an event where controversial businessman Anil Gupta was also pictured began to surface, forcing DIRCO to issue a public statement and seek clarity from Sooklal.
However, sources have indicated that Sooklal has been cleared and has resumed his duties in India.
While DIRCO has remained silent on the matter, it has been established that Sooklal met with senior departmental officials on the sidelines of the recently held SADC Summit in Durban.
IOL News has confirmed that Zuma’s trip to India was a planned visit involving the former president, including five members of the South African Police Service and other aides, with costs covered by the Presidency.
It has also been confirmed that DIRCO was fully aware of the trip and had authorised and activated various official protocols, including the use of protocol lounges at King Shaka and OR Tambo airports and notifying missions in Dubai and New Delhi.
The visit included a private dinner in Vasant Kunj as well as a visit to a temple in Haridwar, India. Following Zuma’s visit and a subsequent furore over the presence of Gupta, DIRCO requested that Sooklal provide a mission report detailing the trip.
Sources said Sooklal was informed of Zuma’s visit by DIRCO’s Directorate of State Visits on June 19.
In preparation for the former president’s arrival, the South African High Commission requested Zuma’s itinerary, which was subsequently followed by details of his flights.
According to sources, Sooklal received Zuma at the protocol lounge in Mumbai on June 25, in keeping with established diplomatic protocol.
It was during this interaction that Zuma explained that he was visiting India as a guest of Hindu spiritual leader Mahamandaleshwar Kailashananda Swami, whom he had known since his presidency.
Zuma was also scheduled to participate in a pooja at the Swami’s ashram on the banks of the Ganges River on June 26.
Sources said Sooklal was already invited to attend the prayer ceremony and was not attending as part of Zuma’s delegation or as his guest.
Sooklal travelled to the event with his wife.
Zuma and Sooklal were both announced as chief guests at the event. Sources said Gupta was also announced as a chief guest.
After the programme, Sooklal was invited to join Zuma for a photograph.
Sources said Sooklal had no interaction with Gupta and was not involved in the media interview subsequently conducted by Zuma.
The circumstances surrounding the photograph subsequently became the subject of scrutiny after it was widely circulated on social media, prompting questions about Sooklal’s association with Gupta and whether his presence at the event had been sanctioned.
IOL News approached DIRCO on three separate occasions with detailed questions about the matter, but received no response.
IOL News
