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PRETORIA- In a decisive move signalling a major shake-up in South Africa’s diplomatic operations, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola announced on Wednesday that High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, has been recalled to Pretoria for consultations.
Speaking at a media briefing at the OR Tambo Building regarding current foreign policy priorities, Lamola revealed that the government is moving swiftly to reform protocol and diplomatic assistance provided to former state leaders during international travel.
The recall comes against the backdrop of renewed public and political scrutiny surrounding former President Jacob Zuma’s controversial foreign travel, including past trips to visit the fugitive Gupta family. Zuma’s longstanding ties with the state-capture-linked brothers have historically placed South Africa’s diplomatic missions in compromised positions, raising persistent concerns over state resources being leveraged to facilitate personal or politically risky foreign engagements.
To prevent further diplomatic fallout, Minister Lamola confirmed that the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), alongside the Presidency, has submitted recommendations to Parliament to institute a mandatory vetting and protocol framework.
Under the proposed guidelines, former Presidents and former Deputy Presidents seeking state protocol or diplomatic backing will be subjected to a strict disclosure mechanism. Former leaders must provide full details regarding the purpose of their travel, complete activity itineraries, explicit sources of funding, principal hosts, key engagements, and the precise capacity in which they are traveling.
According to Lamola, this mechanism will allow authorities to perform rigorous risk assessments—evaluating potential reputational, political, diplomatic, or security fallout for South Africa before granting state support. The initiative marks an end to unvetted state facilitation for former dignitaries on foreign soil.
