South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Monday the appointment of former Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas as a special envoy to the United States.
Jonas, who currently serves as the independent non-executive chairman of telecommunications company MTN Group, will continue in this role while taking on his new diplomatic responsibilities.
“Jonas has been entrusted with advancing South Africa’s diplomatic, trade, and bilateral priorities,” Ramaphosa’s office stated. “He will lead negotiations, foster strategic partnerships, and engage with U.S. government officials and private-sector leaders to promote our nation’s interests.”
Relations between South Africa and the U.S. have deteriorated significantly since U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January. The U.S. has reduced financial aid to South Africa over its land reform policies and its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, expelling South Africa’s ambassador last month.
Jonas served as South Africa’s deputy finance minister from 2014 to 2017 and was a vocal critic of corruption during his tenure. He played a prominent role in a judicial inquiry into graft under former President Jacob Zuma, revealing offers from the Gupta brothers—associates of Zuma—for the finance minister position and large sums of money. Both Zuma and the Guptas have denied any wrongdoing.