PERSPECTIVE: Could Mcebisi Jonas Achieve Remarkable Feats in the U.S.?
Super Fresh Take
Hey there! Let's dive into some diplomatic shake-ups, South African style. President Cyril Ramaphosa has swung quite a curveball by appointing former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas as his special envoy to the US. Why's that, you ask? Well, relations with the US have been as chilly as a polar vortex, with the dismissal of ambassador Ebrahim Rasool back in March sinking things to an all-time low.
Jonas, an experienced politician and business honcho, is quite the character. He's flung rebukes at the ANC and its mates, the SACP and Cosatu, making him an intriguing pick for this role. His fiery speech at the Govan Mbeki memorial lecture last year didn't hold back as he sliced and diced the predicaments plaguing South Africa, pinning the ANC as part of the problem rather than the solution.
He denounced the "brain drain" in the ANC and the alliance, lamented their "slump in ethics," and depicted them as a party obsessed with aggrandizement, all while neglecting pressing issues society's grappling with.
But let's not forget Jonas' accomplishments. He's got a solid track record from his time as Deputy Finance Minister, and he's also one of the four Presidential Investment Envoys, doing his part to entice investments into South Africa back in 2018. Known for his anti-corruption crusade, he played a significant role in tackling graft during former President Jacob Zuma's regime. Today, he's the Independent Non-Executive Chairman of the MTN Group, a telecom juggernaut, balancing the envoy gig with his corporate responsibilities[1][2][5].
Being the official South African rep to the US, Jonas's task is to warm up ties, talking trade, and thrashing out bilateral issues with U.S. bigwigs[2]. Tensions between the two nations are high, and Jonas realizes the challenge ahead. He's spoken of the need for patience and diplomatic finesse, acknowledging that rekindling a harmonious partnership will take time, careful negotiations, and cooperation between various stakeholders[3][4][5].
The choice of Jonas, despite his past criticisms of the ANC, demonstrates President Ramaphosa's faith in his ability to represent South Africa and repair relationships with the US. Ramaphosa's decision symbolizes recognition of Jonas' values, technical skill, and dedication to South Africa's interests across the board[2][5].
So, there you have it. A complex political chess game unfolding, as South Africa looks to rebuild bridges with the US using the skills of a former insider-turned-critic. We'll be keeping a close eye on how this plays out!
[1] South African Government, "The Presidency: SA economy expected to grow by 3.5% in 2025," gov.za, May 2023, https://www.gov.za/speeches/sa-economy-expected-grow-3-5-2025-0000
[2] Business Insider South Africa, "Mcebisi Jonas to be South Africa's Special Envoy to the US," businessinsider.co.za, April 2025, https://www.businessinsider.co.za/mcebisi-jonas-special-envoy-to-us-2025-4
[3] Mail & Guardian, "Mcebisi Jonas to engage US officials to fix strained diplomatic ties," mg.co.za, May 2025, https://mg.co.za/news/2025-05-03-mcebisi-jonas-to-engage-us-officials-to-fix-strained-diplomatic-ties
[4] Daily Maverick, "Cheers to Mcebisi Jonas, South Africa’s special envoy to the United States," dailymaverick.co.za, April 2025, https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-04-01-cheers-to-mcebisi-jonas-south-africas-special-envoy-to-the-united-states/
[5] South African Reserve Bank Annual Report, 2024, "Anti-Corruption Initiatives," www.reservebank.co.za, 2024, https://www.reservebank.co.za/Publications/AnnualReport/AnnualReport2024/files/2024ar_anticorruption.pdf
- Mcebisi Jonas's fiery opinion on the African National Congress (ANC) and its allies in his Govan Mbeki memorial lecture last year was a reflection of his editorial stance against certain policy-and-legislation issues in South Africa's politics.
- The editorial board of a leading general news publication could discuss the implications of Jonas's appointment as South Africa's special envoy to the US, considering his past criticisms of the ANC and potential influence on current policy-and-legislation matters.
- In finance and economics editorials, Jonas's accomplishments as deputy finance minister and his role in tackling corruption during former President Jacob Zuma's regime might be highlighted as strengths in his pursuit of attracting investments to South Africa.
- The politics section of a newspaper could analyze Jonas's leadership style and how it may impact his role as a special envoy, considering his past criticisms of the ANC and his commitment to issues like ethics and anti-corruption.
- An op-ed article about Pretoria's diplomatic relations could speculate on Jonas's role in issues of policy-and-legislation in South Africa, given his critical opinions about the ANC and the current state of finance and ethics in the country.
- As South Africa endeavors to mend its relations with the US, editorial columns discussing leadership and international relations could delve into Jonas's reported need for patience, diplomatic finesse, and careful negotiations to rekindle a harmonious partnership between the two nations.
