Naming new SA envoy to US kicks up dust

Jonas slated over past remarks about US President Trump

- JONISAYI MAROMO, THABO MAKWAKWA and MASHUDU SADIKE

NEWLY-appointed South Africa's Special Envoy to the United States, Mcebisi Jonas, is tasked with a heavy responsibility to try to mend rapidly deteriorating ties between Pretoria and Washington.

However, before he gets down to business, Jonas has to navigate a challenge involving the remarks attributed to him about US President Donald Trump.

In defence, Jonas has explained that his previous remarks against Trump should be understood in the context that he was speaking in 2020 as an activist.

His remarks have brought the former finance deputy minister under scrutiny for referring to Trump as “a racist, homophobic and narcissistic right-winger”.

IOL reported on Monday that a US foreign policy expert has warned that Jonas could face the same treatment that former South African ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, was subjected to as a result of his comments on Trump.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently booted Rassol out of the country, declaring him “persona non grata” following his comments made in a webinar, criticising the Trump administration.

To fill the void left by Rasool, President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday announced the appointment of Jonas as the Special Envoy to the US, serving as the official representative of the President and the Government of South Africa.

In an interview with Radio 702, Jonas was asked about his previous assertions on Trump. He responded: “I guess I must put that in context. At the time, I was outside of government, at the time I was speaking as an activist. I mean, people move on and confront the challenges of the time.

“I am sure if you Google any politician, they have said some nasty things about one politician or the other.