International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola has confirmed that South Africa’s High Commissioner to India Anil Sooklal, has been “recalled to headquarters for consultations”.

This after Sooklal was photographed alongside former President and MKP leader Jacob Zuma, and notorious State Capture fugitive Ajay Gupta.

The trio was spotted together in June at the Siddhpeeth Shri Dakshin Kali temple in Haridwar, India, during a religious ceremony.

Critics slammed the interaction, pointing out that the Gupta family remains at the centre of South Africa’s multibillion-rand State capture scandal.

In response to the diplomatic headache, the government is moving to tightly regulate the international travel privileges of former leaders.

Lamola announced that a recommendation has been submitted to Parliament and the Presidency to implement a rigid new framework for protocol and diplomatic support.

Under this proposed framework, the Presidency and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (dirco) will jointly establish a mandatory disclosure mechanism.

Former Presidents and Deputy Presidents seeking State-funded protocol assistance abroad will be required to provide strict details prior to departure, including purpose of travel, complete programme of activities, direct sources of funding, principal hosts and key engagements, and the exact capacity in which they are travelling.

Lamila said this will allow the State to perform informed risk assessments regarding potential reputational, political, diplomatic, or security hazards to South Africa.

Meanwhile, this recall comes amid fierce political pushback from opposition parties demanding transparency.

On Wednesday, ActionSA condemned the government's decision to desist from bringing disciplinary action against Sooklal.

Last month, the DA called on Lamola to launch an urgent departmental inquiry to determine whether Sooklal had received explicit, official written orders to facilitate the meeting.

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni openly rebuked Sooklal for hosting the pair, describing the social interaction with a State fugitive as a "disgrace" to the nation.

The political narrative shifted sharply during a subsequent parliamentary portfolio committee meeting. Data emerged suggesting that Sooklal was not acting independently, but was instead executing direct written directives issued by Dirco headquarters to assist Zuma.

DA spokesperson on International Relations and Cooperation Ryan Smith, strongly questioned these contradictions.

Smith stated that his party viewed the entire incident as a severe breach of diplomatic protocol and an alarming indicator of institutional capture within South Africa’s foreign service.

Following Lamola’s announcement of Sooklal’s recall, Smith said this created more questions than answers.

While he welcomed the proposal for new protocols, Smith said it did not answer whether Zuma’s relationship with the Guptas is being supported by government.

“South Africans are no closer to understanding what happened, who is responsible, and what action will be taken while Jacob Zuma clinks glasses with the Guptas who have yet to face consequences for a raft of corruption allegations outlined in the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture,” he said.