Former President Jacob Zuma’s recent private visit to India has sparked intense political controversy in South Africa, highlighting deep divisions within the government. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni criticized the trip, stating that Zuma’s actions, specifically his meeting with Ajay Gupta, undermine South Africa’s criminal justice system and foreign policy. This criticism follows Interpol's 2021 Red Notice against the Gupta brothers. Conversely, Deputy President Paul Mashatile defended the diplomatic response, asserting that High Commissioner Anil Sooklal followed standard protocols by accommodating a former head of state. However, parliamentary revelations confirmed that Sooklal received written instructions from DIRCO to facilitate the visit, which included meeting with Ajay Gupta. Consequently, the Parliamentary Committee on International Relations has requested a formal report from DIRCO to investigate the implications of these diplomatic engagements on South Africa's international reputation.