Jonas takes on role as SA's special envoy to US

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa's appointment of former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas as Special Envoy to the US has been largely welcomed.

- MASHUDU SADIKE [e-mail]

Jonas is tasked with resetting the relationship between South Africa and the US, which has soured in recent times after US president Donald Trump cut funding and then accused the country of persecuting white farmers.

The US last month expelled SA's ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, over remarks he had made about the Trump administration.

Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, yesterday said 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 pondering on who to appoint as ambassador and Jonas would pave the way for the appointment after negotiations.

“The process to appoint an ambassador is under way and that process will be completed at an appropriate time.