'Jonas a terrible choice as special envoy to US'

Outspoken political analyst and published author Prince Mashele believes there could not have been a worse candidate than former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas for a special envoy to the US amid fractured relations with Pretoria.

- By Mawande AmaShabalala [e-mail]

This week, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that Jonas would be sent to the world's most powerful nation as his and South Africa's official representative.

"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 the US government officials and private sector leaders to promote our nation's interests," said Ramaphosa.

However, Mashele believes the decision was a total miscalculation and is bound to backfire spectacularly.

Mashele argues that Jonas is compromised, first because of his other hat as chairman of the MTN board, given the company's dealings with Iran - one of the US's enemies.

Second, charged Mashele, the fact that Jonas has publicly condemned US President Donald Trump was another "red flag" that makes him a bad choice and will most likely be shunned after Ebrahim Rasool was expelled as SA ambassador to Washington for the same sin.

Relations between the US and South Africa have soured over the past few months, probably reaching the lowest point since 1994.

Jonas is likely to make the situation worse, Mashele argued.