April 14, (THEWILL) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed former Deputy Finance Minister, Mcebisi Jonas, as his special envoy to the United States, in a bid to mend frayed diplomatic ties between Pretoria and Washington.
Relations between the two countries have worsened significantly since the return of U.S. President Donald Trump to the White House in January. The U.S. expelled South Africa’s ambassador and slashed financial aid over Pretoria’s stance on land reform and its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
In his typical blunt fashion, Trump accused South Africa of land confiscation and claimed “certain classes of people” were being treated “very badly.”
Against this backdrop, President Ramaphosa on Monday announced Jonas’ appointment, tasking him with the responsibility of “advancing South Africa’s diplomatic, trade and bilateral priorities.” The presidency said Jonas will lead high-level engagements with U.S. government officials and private-sector leaders to promote South Africa’s national interests.
Although Jonas’ new role is not equivalent to that of an ambassador, he will serve as Ramaphosa’s official representative in talks with the Trump administration.
In a statement issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Jonas acknowledged the complexity of the assignment but expressed optimism about the future of bilateral relations.
Jonas said, “It is a difficult task, but I believe areas of commonality and mutual interest can be embraced to reaffirm the long-standing ties between our two countries.”
Jonas, who served as deputy finance minister from 2014 to 2017, currently chairs telecommunications giant MTN Group and will continue in that role while serving as special envoy.
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