South Africa recalls High Commissioner to India for urgent consultations
The South African government has officially recalled its High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, to return home for urgent consultations. This decision was announced by the Minister of International Relations, Ronald Lamola, following recent developments involving the diplomat.
The recall comes after reports of a meeting between former President Jacob Zuma and members of the Gupta family in India. The Gupta family has been at the center of various state capture allegations in South Africa for several years, making any interaction with them a matter of significant public and political interest.
Minister Lamola stated that the government needs to discuss the situation directly with Sooklal to understand the circumstances surrounding these events. As a senior diplomat, the High Commissioner plays a vital role in maintaining the relationship between South Africa and India, and his presence in Pretoria is required to clarify these recent reports.
At this stage, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation has not provided further details regarding the specific purpose of the meeting or the future of Sooklal’s position. The government is expected to provide more information once the consultations have been completed.