By Thapelo Molefe
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas as his Special Envoy to the United States following the expulsion of former ambassador Ebrahim Rasool by the US government—a rare diplomatic rebuke that has placed significant strain on relations between Pretoria and Washington.
The announcement, made by the Presidency on Monday, comes just weeks after Rasool was declared persona non grata and expelled by Washington over remarks deemed offensive by the Trump administration.
Rasool, in a recent webinar, described the “Make America Great Again” movement as a manifestation of white supremacist anxiety over demographic change in the U.S.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly accused Rasool of being a “race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS,” prompting his forced return to South Africa in March.
In a statement, Ramaphosa said Jonas would “lead negotiations, foster strategic partnerships and engage with US government officials and private-sector leaders to promote our nation’s interests”.
Jonas is expected to take on the full spectrum of bilateral priorities, including diplomatic engagement, trade talks and restoring damaged political ties with Washington.
“The appointment of Mr Jonas underscores his distinguished career and continued commitment to advancing South Africa’s national and economic interests,” said Ramaphosa.
“I remain committed to rebuilding and maintaining this [US-SA] relationship on the basis of mutual respect.”
Jonas, who currently serves as the independent non-executive chairman of MTN Group, was one of four investment envoys appointed by Ramaphosa in 2018.
He will maintain his role at MTN while acting as the Special Envoy.
In 2016, Mcebisi made headlines for refusing a R600 million bribe offer from the Gupta family—a move that positioned him as a key figure in the fight against state capture.
Jonas acknowledged the diplomatic fallout, and cautioned that there would be “no quick fixes in such a complex situation”.
“I appeal that, in the national interest, South Africans exercise patience and allow us time and space to engage fully with different stakeholders in the United States and South Africa,” Jonas said in a statement.
The ANC has welcomed the appointment, saying it reaffirmed South Africa’s “strategic intent to deepen bilateral and multilateral relations” and expressed confidence that Jonas would help restore trust and cooperation with the US.
Rasool, who has not issued a formal apology or retraction, defended his remarks upon returning to South Africa. He said his analysis of US political dynamics was misinterpreted and that he had “no regrets.”
Neither the Presidency nor the International Relations and Cooperation Department have officially commented on the expulsion.
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