US conservative media outlets have sharply criticised the appointment of Mcebisi Jonas as South Africa’s Special Envoy to the United States, citing remarks he allegedly made about former US President Donald Trump.
The backlash follows an announcement by the South African Presidency confirming Jonas’ new diplomatic role. A trusted ally of President Cyril Ramaphosa, Jonas previously served as Deputy Finance Minister and currently chairs Africa’s largest mobile network operator, MTN Group.
According to reports by right-wing US publications Breitbart and National Review, Jonas made disparaging remarks about Trump during a 2020 speech delivered at the Ahmad Kathrada Foundation. He reportedly described Trump as a “racist,” “homophobe,” and “narcissistic right-winger”.
Breitbart highlighted Jonas’ concern over Trump’s rise to power in 2016, quoting him as saying: “How we got to a situation where a narcissistic right-winger took charge of the world’s greatest economic and military powerhouse is something that we need to ponder over.”
National Review also addressed the appointment, noting ongoing diplomatic tensions between Washington and Pretoria, and describing the current state of affairs as an “ongoing spat”. The publication underscored that the envoy role differs from that of an ambassador, referencing the removal of former Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool after he criticised Trump and the “Make America Great Again” movement.
The Presidency’s statement said Jonas will continue as MTN’s independent non-executive chairman while also assuming his duties as Special Envoy. MTN’s presence in countries like Iran has previously drawn scrutiny from US analysts.
Michael Walsh, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, told National Review that South Africa’s ties with Iran remain a concern within the US government.
Ramaphosa has expressed confidence in Jonas’ ability to strengthen US–South Africa relations, stating that the envoy will “lead negotiations, foster strategic partnerships and engage with US government officials and private-sector leaders to promote our nation’s interests.”
“For decades, South Africa and the United States of America have maintained a historical and strategic relationship. I remain committed to rebuilding and maintaining this relationship… on the basis of mutual respect, recognition of each other’s sovereignty and benefit for our respective peoples,” Ramaphosa said.
