ZASouth Africa's High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, has returned to his post after being cleared by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) regarding his involvement in former President Jacob Zuma's controversial visit to India in June. The visit raised concerns due to Zuma's attendance at an event where controversial businessman Anil Gupta was also present. DIRCO investigated the situation and confirmed that Sooklal had been informed of Zuma's trip by the Directorate of State Visits on June 19. Sooklal met Zuma at the protocol lounge in Mumbai on June 25, as per standard diplomatic procedures. He attended a religious ceremony in Haridwar as an invited guest, separately from Zuma's delegation, and later joined Zuma for a photo op. However, Sooklal did not interact with Gupta and was not part of the media interview conducted by Zuma. DIRCO authorized the visit and activated official protocols, including airport lounges and notifications to foreign missions.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced account of the situation, citing multiple sources and providing context about the actions taken by DIRCO and Sooklal. It does not exhibit overtly biased language or selective sourcing, offering a neutral overview of the events and their implications.
