ANC welcomes appointment of Mcebisi Jonas as Ramaphosa's special envoy to US
The party said the move reaffirmed government's strategic intent to deepen bilateral and multi-lateral relations anchored in mutual respect and shared interest.
FILE: Former deputy finance minister, Mcebisi Jonas, reacts during a demonstration march organised by a broad-based coalition called #UniteBehind, to place pressure on MPs to vote for the removal of South African President Jacob Zuma (not visible) before a no-confidence vote by Parliament, on 7 August 2017 in Cape Town. Picture: RODGER BOSCH/AFP
CAPE TOWN - The African National Congress (ANC) has welcomed the appointment of former deputy finance minister, Mcebisi Jonas, as the president’s special envoy to the United States.
The party said the move reaffirmed government's strategic intent to deepen bilateral and multi-lateral relations anchored in mutual respect and shared interest.
But hours since the announcement on Monday, Jonas' appointment already sparked controversy over disparaging remarks he made about US President Donald Trump more than four years ago after Trump lost the presidential race for a second consecutive term.
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And while Jonas won’t be fulfilling an ambassadorial role, just last month, the US booted out former Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool for comments he made about the Trump administration during a think-tank discussion.
The ANC said that Jonas had the right credentials for the job of instilling investor confidence, having served both in the Treasury and as a presidential investment envoy.
"As relations between South Africa and the United States evolve, we are encouraged by this move to strengthen engagement through principled dialogue and the pursuit of common goals that serve both our nations and the broader African continent," said spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri.
The Good Party has also praised the move, with secretary-general Brett Herron saying that following the expulsion of Rasool, Jonas' appointment displays both integrity and competence.
"We are confident that Mcebisi Jonas has the moral authority, strategic insight, and proven leadership to navigate this critical moment in the US–South Africa relationship," said Herron.
While the Democratic Alliance (DA) has not issued an official position on Jonas' appointment, Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson described Jonas on his social media as "a safe pair of hands".
Meanwhile, his party's international relations spokesperson, Emma Powell, retweeted a video of Jonas labelling Trump a racist and homophobe in an Ahmed Kathrada lecture in 2020, as social commentators question whether due diligence was properly followed before the choice was made.