Ramaphosa appoints Mcebisi Jonas as special envoy to US

As tensions between the United States and South Africa continue to simmer, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the appointment of Mcebisi Jonas as the Special Envoy to the United States (US).

Jonas’s appointment as special envoy follows the expulsion of the former South African ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool.

Rasool returned to South Africa last month after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expelled him and stripped him of his diplomatic privileges.

He was declared persona non grata and given just a week to leave the US due to comments he made about the country and the Donald Trump administration during a webinar.

Jonas will be official representative in US

Ramaphosa said Jonas will serve as the official representative of Ramaphosa and government.

“In this capacity, Mr Jonas is entrusted with the responsibility to advance South Africa’s diplomatic, trade and bilateral priorities. He will lead negotiations, foster strategic partnerships and engage with US government officials and private-sector leaders to promote our nation’s interests.

“An eminent South African leader, Mr Jonas served as one of four Presidential Investment Envoys that I appointed in 2018 to facilitate investment into South Africa,” Ramaphosa said.

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Diplomatic role

The president said that Jonas, a former deputy finance minister of South Africa, brings extensive governmental experience to his new diplomatic role.

“He holds the position of independent non-executive chairman of the MTN Group, a role he will maintain alongside his responsibilities as my special envoy. This appointment underscores his distinguished career and continued commitment to advancing South Africa’s national and economic interests.”

US-SA relations

Ramaphosa said South Africa wants to rebuild the fractured relationship with the US.

“For decades, South Africa and the US have maintained a historical and strategic relationship.

“In the interest of our country, our region and the rest of our continent, I remain committed to rebuilding and maintaining this relationship for more decades on the basis of mutual respect, recognition of each other’s sovereignty and benefit for our respective peoples,” Ramaphosa said.

Relations between the US and South Africa are at an all-time low after US President Donald Trump cut financial aid to South Africa, citing Pretoria taking Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and “strengthening ties with Iran, which supports terrorism globally”.

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