Jonas the right person to strengthen US-SA ties - Presidency

The Presidency has clarified the role of Jonas, emphasising that he will not replace an ambassador but instead act as a direct representative of President Cyril Ramaphosa, with a focus on accelerating high-level engagement and addressing key issues between the two nations.

Jonas's appointment comes after the expulsion of South Africa’s former ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, in March. 

The former ambassador was expelled by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio after he had described Donald Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ movement as a supremacist reaction to growing diversity in the United States.  

Rasool made the comments during an online seminar, where he characterised Trump’s movement as “a white supremacist response” to demographic shifts in the U.S.  

His departure left South Africa without an ambassador in the US, highlighting the need for a new approach to relations between the two countries.

Speaking to SABC News, Magwenya explained that the envoy’s role is to accelerate high-level engagement and help reset diplomatic and economic ties with the U.S.

"This is a separate process from appointing an ambassador. This appointment is designed to accelerate engagements between South Africa and the United States.

"The President recognizes the urgency of resetting our relationship with the U.S., and this appointment is specifically aimed at achieving that."

Magwenya also emphasised the difference between an envoy and an ambassador.

"Unlike ambassadors, who often face bureaucratic hurdles, a special envoy is not burdened by such processes. 

"The envoy will report directly to the President and work closely with the Ministers of International Relations, as well as Trade and Industry, on specific issues that are vital to our relationship with the United States," said Magwenya.

Jonas will serve as the President’s official representative in Washington at a time when relations between South Africa and the U.S. face several challenges among them, disagreements over trade, foreign policy, and South Africa’s positions on global conflicts.

Tensions escalated after President Ramaphosa signed the controversial Expropriation Act into law, which led to backlash from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.

The move sparked aid cuts and accusations that the South African government was targeting white farmers.

The U.S. is South Africa’s second-largest trading partner, and the government is keen to protect this vital economic relationship.

Differences over South Africa’s foreign policy have also contributed to strained ties, particularly the case against Israel at the International Court of Justice regarding the war in Gaza.

Jonas’s appointment comes as the government continues to search for a permanent replacement for former ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, who was expelled from the U.S. in March.

It also comes after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on various countries, including South Africa.

Magwenya believes that Jonas is the right person to address these challenges.

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