South Africa appoints Mcebisi Jonas as special envoy to U.S. to rebuild ties

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has named former Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas as the country’s new Special Envoy to the United States.

This decision is seen as a strategic effort to strengthen diplomatic ties with Washington, which have become strained due to President Donald Trump's return to the White House and his "America First" foreign policy stance.

In a statement released on Monday, Ramaphosa emphasized that Jonas would serve as South Africa’s official representative, working to advance the country’s diplomatic, trade, and bilateral priorities.

"He will lead negotiations, foster strategic partnerships and engage with U.S. government officials and private-sector leaders to promote our nation's interests," the President said.

Jonas’ appointment comes at a challenging time for South Africa's relations with the U.S., particularly as Trump's second term shifts foreign relations towards a more transactional approach.

Pretoria, once closely aligned with Washington, now faces the need to recalibrate its foreign policy to keep up with changing global dynamics.

Ramaphosa highlighted Jonas' extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, which includes his tenure as Deputy Finance Minister and his role as one of South Africa’s Presidential Investment Envoys in 2018.

Jonas is also the Independent Non-Executive Chairman of MTN Group, a position he will continue to hold while serving as Special Envoy.

The South African President framed the appointment as part of a larger initiative to rejuvenate Pretoria’s historical alliance with Washington, noting that "the diplomatic overture signals Pretoria's recognition that it must innovate its foreign policy toolkit, especially amid shifting global alignments and increasingly transactional bilateral relations under Trump's second administration."