A fresh row over former President Jacob Zuma's visit to India has pushed the South African government to seek tighter oversight of overseas travel by retired heads of state, with officials now proposing new rules aimed at protecting the country's diplomatic interests.
Foreign Affairs Minister Ronald Lamola has asked parliament and the president's office to consider introducing protocols that would require former presidents to share details of planned foreign trips before they travel.
The proposal comes after Zuma's visit to India last month, where he met Ajay Gupta, one of the businessmen linked to the corruption scandal that overshadowed his presidency.
The meeting quickly drew criticism across South Africa after photographs surfaced showing Zuma alongside Gupta at a temple in India. The images sparked public debate, with one government minister accusing Zuma of showing the "middle finger" to South Africa.
According to Lamola, the proposed measures are intended to ensure there is greater openness whenever former heads of state undertake international visits.
Under the new recommendation, retired presidents would be expected to "provide full details" on the upcoming trip for "an informed assessment of the appropriate level of support required and any associated reputational, political, diplomatic or security risks", he said during a media briefing on Wednesday.
The controversy has once again revived discussion about the Gupta family's links to Zuma during his time in office.
Nearly a decade ago, the Gupta brothers faced accusations that they benefited from their close relationship with Zuma and used that influence to shape government decisions. Both Zuma and the Gupta family consistently denied the allegations.
The brothers left South Africa in 2018 after a judicial commission launched an inquiry into claims of widespread fraud and political interference in state institutions, a scandal that became known as "state capture".
When the commission completed its work in 2022, it found that Zuma had appointed and dismissed ministers responsible for key sectors of the economy at the request of the Gupta family.
South African authorities later withdrew the arrest warrant issued against Ajay Gupta. His brothers, Atul and Rajesh Gupta, relocated to the United Arab Emirates, where a court in 2023 rejected South Africa's request to extradite them.
Since then, Zuma has been expelled from the African National Congress (ANC), the party he once led. He now heads the opposition uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party.
The India trip also led to scrutiny of South Africa's diplomatic mission after High Commissioner Anil Sooklal appeared in photographs with Zuma and Ajay Gupta during the temple visit. Sooklal has since been recalled, although he has denied any wrongdoing.
The latest incident is not the first time Zuma's travels abroad have drawn criticism.
Last year, while visiting Morocco in his capacity as MK leader, Zuma publicly supported Morocco's claim over the disputed Western Sahara territory despite South Africa maintaining the opposite position.
He was also photographed standing before the South African flag during a meeting with Morocco's foreign minister, where the issue of Western Sahara was discussed.
The South African government later condemned the visit and lodged a formal diplomatic protest with Morocco.