South Africa to summon Moroccan diplomat over Zuma's Rabat visit

South Africa plans to summon Morocco’s chargé d’affaires in Pretoria to protest the use of the South African flag during a July meeting in Rabat between Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and former South African President Jacob Zuma, officials said.

International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola said in a written parliamentary response that Zuma’s visit was a party initiative in his capacity as leader of the opposition Umkhonto We Sizwe Party, not a state-sanctioned trip.

Lamola argued that protocol elements, including the display of the national flag alongside Morocco’s, gave the encounter an official character “contrary to South Africa’s foreign policy position on the the Sahara dispute.”

The ministry has already sent a protest note to the Moroccan diplomatic mission in Pretoria, reaffirming South Africa’s support for what it calls the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and its recognition of the Polisario Front’s self-declared republic.

Diplomatic documents dated July 11 showed that South Africa’s embassy in Rabat had requested VIP protocol services for Zuma’s arrival at Rabat-Salé Airport and assistance with his stay from July 15 to 18, including logistical arrangements for his delegation. Analysts say this suggests official logistical backing despite Pretoria’s distancing itself from the visit.

Zuma’s presence in Morocco sparked debate in South Africa’s political scene, with critics pointing to the photos showing the Moroccan and South African flags side by side.

The visit also drew attention because Zuma reportedly voiced support for Morocco’s autonomy plan as a “serious and realistic” solution to the Sahara file.

Political observers in Morocco described Pretoria’s move as inconsistent and politically motivated. They argue that South Africa’s stance reflects alignment with Algeria, Morocco’s rival in the regional dispute.

Civil society activists also highlighted Morocco’s historic support for South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle, contrasting it with Pretoria’s current diplomatic hostility.

The incident underscores the growing rift within South Africa’s political landscape, as Zuma’s new party challenges the ruling African National Congress, raising questions about Pretoria’s handling of foreign policy amid shifting alliances in Africa.