Former diplomat and international relations expert, Dr Kingsley Makhubela says that government must accept that nothing constrains a former President from advocating for his political party.
His comment comes in the wake of government’s initial reaction to former President Jacob Zuma’s recent meeting with Ajay Gupta.
Zuma’s visit to India has sparked controversy, following reports that he was seen with the fugitive Gupta family member and South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal.
On Friday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni described Sooklal’s conduct as disgraceful.
International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola says government wants answers about the nature of Zuma’s recent trip to India.
Makhubela says, “They (government) must accept that nothing really constrains a former president from advocating for his political party. The High Commissioner, his level of involvement is clear, he used the diplomatic courtesy extended to former heads of state. So there’s nothing wrong, but the cabinet perspective should have said, because it’s Zuma, they are trying to determine what are the issues, in terms of this visit. They should have waited for that until it comes to them.”
He says, “To start making pronouncements about taking drastic action against the High Commissioner, it means the horse is already bolted, but the absence of exercising better judgment doesn’t mean that somebody has violated the rules.”
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