DIRCO clears High Commissioner Sooklal over Zuma’s India visit, says no Gupta meeting was facilitated

DIRCO has cleared Anil Sooklal, saying its mission did not facilitate any private meetings between Jacob Zuma and Anil Gupta.

Following IOL's report that South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, was cleared following Jacob Zuma's controversial visit to India, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has responded.

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

A source told IOL that Sooklal had been cleared and resumed his duties in India, but DIRCO remained silent on the issue.

In a statement on Wednesday, DIRCO said it had completed its internal consultations with Sooklal relating to the situation involving former President Jacob Zuma's private visit to India from 25 to 27 June 2026.