In a shocking revelation, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has uncovered that President Cyril Ramaphosa has known for months that his appointed “Special Envoy,” Mcebisi Jonas, is not recognised by the United States government.
With just two weeks remaining before South Africa faces devastating 30% US tariffs, the DA confirms the following:
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The US denied Jonas a diplomatic visa in May 2024.
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Washington formally rejected his credentials, refusing to recognize him as South Africa’s official representative.
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The Ramaphosa administration was repeatedly advised to appoint an alternative envoy but chose to ignore these warnings.
Despite these clear rejections, President Ramaphosa publicly insisted in a June 2025 SABC interview that Jonas remained his North American envoy, stating: “Mcebisi Jonas is still my North American envoy and has done good work.”
This week, when the DA announced it would file a Promotion of Access to Information (PAIA) request to scrutinise Jonas’s official activities over the past 90 days, presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya dismissed the move, accusing the DA of “encroaching” on the president’s authority.
Emma Louise Powell, DA Spokesperson on International Relations & Cooperation, stated: “The Presidency must explain why it continues to mislead the public by endorsing an envoy who has been outright rejected by the US government. This failure puts South African jobs and exports at risk.”
With Ambassador Rasool’s previous expulsion from the US and now Jonas’s rejection, it appears President Ramaphosa is prioritising political image over protecting South Africa’s economic interests.
The looming US tariffs threaten billions in exports, yet no credible envoy is advocating for the country in Washington.
The DA will urgently request Parliament to summon the Presidency for answers and demand the immediate appointment of a qualified representative to salvage South Africa’s deteriorating relations with the US.
