South Africa Proposes Travel Rules for Former Presidents

Foreign Affairs Minister Ronald Lamola has recommended that the South African parliament and the president's office implement new protocols to govern the international travel of former heads of state. The proposal requires former leaders to disclose full details of upcoming trips so the government can assess potential reputational, political, diplomatic, and security risks.

The move follows a controversial visit to India by former President Jacob Zuma. During the trip, Zuma was photographed at a temple with Ajay Gupta, a businessman linked to a systemic corruption and state capture scandal. The encounter resulted in the recall of Anil Sooklal, the South African high commissioner to India.

This diplomatic friction is not an isolated incident. Zuma previously traveled to Morocco, where he supported claims over Western Sahara, a position that directly opposes official South African foreign policy. Minister Lamola stated that the new measures are necessary to ensure that the actions of former leaders do not undermine the country's diplomatic standing.