ActionSA criticises govt over failure to sanction High Commissioner to India
ActionSA has condemned the government's decision to desist from bringing disciplinary action against South Africa's High Commissioner to India Anil Sooklal.
The party called on Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) Ronald Lamola to make public the reason behind the decision.
In addition to demanding transparency, ActionSA is calling for the immediate disclosure of all internal investigative findings.
The party wants to know why disciplinary sanctions were deemed unnecessary, given the political and ethical implications of the diplomat's recent associations.
The political storm ignited in June when Sooklal was photographed alongside former President and MKP leader Jacob Zuma, as well as notorious State Capture fugitive Ajay Gupta.
The trio were spotted together at the Siddhpeeth Shri Dakshin Kali temple in Haridwar, India.
The imagery provoked immediate public backlash, considering the multibillion-rand corruption allegations and outstanding legal matters tied to the Gupta family's role in institutional State capture in the country.
Last month, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni issued a stern, open reprimand against Sooklal for hosting the controversial pair.
However, the State's narrative shifted dramatically during a subsequent parliamentary portfolio committee meeting. Information emerged indicating that Sooklal may not have acted independently, but rather under direct written instructions issued by Dirco management.
ActionSA says the public has a right to know the contents of this communication trail.
ActionSA Parliamentary leader Athol Trollip said any friendly association between senior public officials and those implicated in State capture demands thorough scrutiny and decisive action.
"It is therefore entirely reasonable to expect that public representatives entrusted with advancing South Africa's interests abroad should be held to the highest ethical standard," said Trollip.
"Choosing not to act in these circumstances sends the wrong message and further erodes public confidence in the State's willingness to confront and eradicate the legacy of State capture."
The party said the newly formed Government of National Unity cannot credibly claim a commitment to clean governance and the rule of law while actively appearing to excuse conduct that normalises relations with State fugitives.
Article Enquiry
Email Article
Save Article
Feedback
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation

















