Zuma Slammed for Meeting Gupta Brother in India — South Africa Demands Answers

July 9, 2026 3 min read

Former South African President Jacob Zuma has sparked fresh outrage after photographs emerged showing him meeting with one of the Gupta brothers in India, a move a senior South African minister described as the ex-leader giving his country "the middle finger."

Meeting Sparks Outrage in South Africa

The meeting, which reportedly took place in India, drew immediate condemnation from Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson, who blasted Zuma for associating with the Gupta family. The Guptas—Ajay, Atul, and Rajesh Gupta—fled South Africa in 2018 after allegations of "state capture," a term describing their alleged infiltration of government contracts and state-owned enterprises.

"This is a deliberate and public insult to the people of South Africa," Macpherson said in a statement. "Zuma knows exactly what the Guptas did to this country. Meeting them while abroad sends a clear message that he has no respect for our courts or our citizens."

Zuma and the Guptas face multiple charges of corruption, fraud, and money laundering stemming from their alleged looting of state resources during Zuma's presidency from 2009 to 2018. Neither Zuma nor the Guptas have faced trial on the most serious charges.

Background of the Gupta-Zuma Scandal

The Gupta brothers built a sprawling business empire in South Africa, winning government contracts worth billions of rand through their alleged control of state institutions. Investigations revealed that the family allegedly appointed ministers, awarded contracts, and influenced presidential decisions.

Zuma himself faces separate charges related to a 1999 arms deal and has been convicted of contempt of court for refusing to testify at a commission investigating the Gupta scandal. His imprisonment in 2021 sparked riots that killed more than 350 people.

All three Gupta brothers remain fugitives. South Africa has sought their extradition from the United Arab Emirates, where they reportedly relocated after leaving South Africa.

India Connection Deepens Mystery

It remains unclear why Zuma travelled to India or whether he met the Gupta brother there. The Indian government has not commented publicly on the meeting or whether Zuma entered the country legally. South African opposition leaders have called on the government to request New Delhi's cooperation in investigating the encounter.

The Congress of the People party urged the South African government to summon India's high commissioner and seek clarity. "If Zuma met a wanted fugitive on Indian soil, we need to know whether India was aware," party leader Mosiea said.

Political Fallout at Home

The meeting complicates Zuma's continued influence in South African politics. Despite his criminal convictions, Zuma retains a loyal base of supporters, particularly in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal. He has backed a small political party, uMkhonto weSizwe, which secured 14 percent of the vote in the 2024 national election.

The ruling African National Congress, which Zuma once led, has distanced itself from the meeting. The party is currently in a coalition government following May's election, which delivered no single party a majority for the first time since 1994.

What Comes Next

South African authorities say they are examining whether any laws were broken by Zuma's meeting with the Gupta brother. International law experts note that meeting a fugitive abroad does not typically constitute a criminal offence unless sanctions or travel bans were violated.

However, the political damage may be harder to contain. Zuma's supporters argue he is being persecuted by enemies within the ANC. Critics say the meeting proves he never genuinely distanced himself from the network that enriched his family.

Watch for further statements from the South African government and any response from Indian authorities. The next court date in Zuma's contempt of court case is scheduled for later this year.