President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed former Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas as his special envoy to the United States, tasking him with representing South Africa’s diplomatic and economic interests amid increasingly strained relations with Washington.
Jonas is expected to engage with US government officials and business leaders to help rebuild trust and strengthen bilateral ties. While committed to promoting a positive working relationship between the two nations, Jonas cautioned that there are no quick fixes.
“This is a complex relationship, and patience will be needed,” Jonas said.
Speaking on VOC Breakfast, international relations scholar Dr Oscar van Heerden explained the significance of the appointment and offered a critical perspective on the strategy behind it.
“A special envoy is typically a temporary diplomatic representative brought in to deal with specific issues. Given our current acrimonious relationship with the Trump administration, it seems the president is saying to Jonas: ‘Please try to smooth things over.’ Whether the Americans are interested, however, remains to be seen.”
Dr van Heerden added that while Jonas’ appointment is a step in the right direction, he would have preferred a broader approach:
“I would’ve liked to see a small team of envoys—not just one person—starting with American businesses already based in South Africa. That way, we could begin to debunk the false narratives and misinformation at the source. Only after that would I recommend engaging with Washington.”
“By starting with America, I fear we’re taking the wrong first step.”
Listen to the full interview below:
VOC News
Photo: GovernmentZA/X
