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Jonas ready for 'challenging role' as US Special Envoy
Cape Times
|April 15, 2025
A MAMMOTH task awaits Mcebisi Jonas who has been entrusted with the responsibility of mending the severely fractured SA-US relations following his appointment as Special Envoy to that country.
The former deputy finance minister's appointment comes at a time when US president Donald Trump has waged “a war” against the country, cutting aid funding and falsely claiming that white people were being persecuted.
The US last month expelled SA's ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, over remarks he had made about the Trump administration.
President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, yesterday clarified that Jonas would not be serving as an ambassador but as a special envoy, focused on advancing SA's diplomatic, trade, and bilateral priorities.
Magwenya also confirmed that Ramaphosa was still deciding who he should appoint as ambassador.
“There is a distinct difference between an ambassador and a special envoy. A special envoy is not burdened with bureaucratic aspects. He reports directly to the president, working closely with stakeholders on specific issues,” Magwenya explained.
He, however, conceded that there are no timelines as to when Jonas will be heading to Washington or any outcomes of his engagements.
This story is from the April 15, 2025 edition of Cape Times.
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