The Presidency has in a statement cautioned the nation against accepting the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) disinformation on matters of international relations and diplomacy as reflective of official government policy.
This follows claims by the DA, presented in a misleading and sensationalist manner, that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Special Envoy to North America, Mcebisi Jonas, has had his “credentials” rejected by the United States and is thus unable to carry out his responsibilities.
“The DA’s latest effort to embarrass President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Special Envoy to North America, Mr Jonas Mcebisi, involves claims - in the DA’s framing – that the United States has rejected Mr Jonas’s “credentials” and that Mr Jonas is therefore unable to perform his role as Special Envoy.
“The DA seeks to add sensationalism to its claim by suggesting President Ramaphosa and Mr Jonas face a crisis in view of the United States’ pending implementation of trade tariffs announced several days ago by President Donald Trump,” the Presidency said in a statement on Tuesday.
Clarifying the matter, the Presidency said Special Envoys are not required to present diplomatic credentials to host countries in the same way that Heads of Mission or other formal diplomats are expected to do.
Furthermore, the nature of the work undertaken by Special Envoys does not typically require them to provide public accounts of their engagements.
“Mr Jonas’s outreach does not in any way supersede the leading role played by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in our difficult but constructive trade negotiations with the United States, or in our diplomatic relations with this longstanding partner.
“Mr Jonas has, however, played an important role in working with the DTIC to develop the trade proposals in which South Africa is currently engaging the United States in good faith and with the expectation of mutually beneficial terms,” the Presidency explained.
Similarly, he has been assisting DIRCO in government’s efforts to reset diplomatic relations and all areas of cooperation between South Africa and the United States.
While these processes are underway and in view of President Ramaphosa’s telephonic contact with President Trump as well as his Working Visit to Washington in May 2025, the Presidency said President Ramaphosa has not had a need for Jonas to visit the US on urgent business.
The Presidency expressed concern over what it termed a “persistent campaign” by the DA against South Africa’s national interest and its “posture of trying to embarrass and belittle the country and in this specific circumstance, Mr Jonas”.
“This campaign has its origins in a Democratic Alliance visit to the United States earlier this year, to advance an ideological agenda rather than our national interest.
“The DA has positioned itself as part of a right-wing nexus that seeks to use a foreign state to effect changes to democratically developed national policies in our own country.
“The DA is trying cheaply but dangerously to exploit a critical engagement between South Africa and the United States to protest President Ramaphosa’s removal of Mr Andrew Whitfield as Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition,” the Presidency said.
The Presidency added that the DA’s pronouncements and insults against countries and international organisations – such as the Republic of Cuba or the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees – offends South Africa’s international relations and posture.
“If the DA were to succeed in undermining South Africa relations with various nations or institutions, the party will harm the viability of businesses and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of South Africans who work in sectors that depend on the expansion of our trade relations with the world,” the statement read.– SAnews.gov.za
