South Africa Names Special Envoy to US Following Ambassador’s Ouster

April 14, 2025 TruthUSA

Washington ousted the nation’s ambassador last month following Trump’s allegations of mistreatment of South Africa’s white minority population by the ANC-led government.

South Africa named a special envoy to the United States on Monday after the U.S. government expelled Pretoria’s ambassador last month.

President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Mcebisi Jonas to the role, aiming to repair the severely damaged relations between the two nations in recent times.

Jonas, the former deputy finance minister from 2014 to 2017, currently serves as the chairman of telecommunications group MTN alongside his position as envoy.

Ramaphosa’s office stated in a statement that Jonas is tasked with advancing South Africa’s diplomatic, trade, and bilateral priorities, leading negotiations, fostering partnerships, and engaging with U.S. officials and private-sector leaders.

While Jonas will represent Ramaphosa and the South African government in talks with the U.S., his role as envoy differs from that of an ambassador.

In a statement released by South Africa’s foreign affairs department, Jonas acknowledged the challenging task ahead.

Jonas expressed optimism about finding common ground to strengthen the longstanding ties between the two countries. He highlighted the complexity of the situation and urged patience to engage fully with stakeholders from both nations.

South Africa has yet to appoint a new ambassador, as relations with Washington have deteriorated following Trump’s accusations against the ANC government.

Trump’s criticisms of South Africa’s foreign policies led to an executive order cutting U.S. funding to the country in February.

Over the weekend, Trump reiterated his stance on social media, stating that the U.S. might skip the G20 summit in Johannesburg if discussions about land confiscation and genocide continue to dominate.

In response, South Africa denied the allegations, emphasizing that it has not seized land from white farmers or been involved in race-based killings.

The country has enacted a contentious land expropriation law allowing government seizure of land without compensation if deemed in the public interest.

Trump’s executive order criticized South Africa for accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice, alleging anti-American foreign policies and support for Hamas and Iran.

South Africa’s ambassador to Washington was removed in March over remarks made during a webinar, prompting U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to declare him persona non grata.

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