By Johnathan Paoli
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Special Envoy to North America, Mcebisi Jonas, says South Africa must guard against foreign policy being influenced by interest groups with narrow agendas.
Speaking at the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation seminar in Sandton on Tuesday, Jonas called for a unified national agenda and warned against allowing foreign policy decisions to be dictated by “business cabals” or ideological nostalgia.
Jonas noted that while Africa faces growing external pressures — including rising protectionism and the potential erosion of trade preferences under African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) — the continent must respond with greater regional integration, economic diversification, and a clear, pragmatic diplomatic strategy.
“We cannot allow foreign policy to be captured by interest groups with their own agendas,” said Jonas.
“South Africa must identify its national interest and pursue partnerships based on that, whether with China, the US, the EU, or BRICS. Africa has not fared
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