JONAS IN USA's BAD BOOKS

SOUTH Africa’s new Special Envoy to the USA Mcebisi Jonas is al klaar in US President Donald Trump’s cross-hairs, thanks to Afrikaner lobby groups Solidarity and AfriForum.

Former Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi was appointed on Monday as a replacement for Ebrahim Rasool, who was booted out of the States last month after criticising Trump. 

Ramaphosa’s statement said that Jonas will “lead negotiations, foster strategic partnerships and engage with US government officials and private-sector leaders to promote our nation’s interests”.And now AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel has dug up old comments of Jonas calling Trump a “racist,” “homophobe,” and “narcissistic right-winger”. 

Kriel posted Jonas' 2020 speech at the 11th Ahmed Kathrada Foundation Annual Lecture on social media platform X, adding Trump’s handle to the story to make sure that the president got the message.  

Kriel wrote: “Here Mr Mcebisi Jonas, South Africa's new Special Envoy to the United States of America, insults President @realDonaldTrump. Given these remarks, do you think Jonas will be able to mend the shaky relationship between South Africa and the Trump administration?”

Solidarity public liaison Jaco Kleynhans pakked aan, adding: “There can only be one of two reasons why Ramaphosa decided to appoint Mcebisi Jonas as envoy to the US despite these totally disqualifying statements: Either their vetting process is so weak that they missed the video (pathetic), or they (ANC led government) want to show Trump the middle finger. I can't see how the relationship between our two countries is going to be repaired now.”

US right-wing new outlet Brietbart News - formerly owned by Steve Bannon, who is leading Trump’s push for an unconstitutional third term in the White House - has also amplified Jonas’ remarks.

Meanwhile, National Review hit out at Jonas’ role as an independent non-executive chairman with mobile network MTN. 

MTN, Africa’s largest cell network, also has operations in Iran, an enemy of the US. 

National Review quoted Michael Walsh, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, saying that South Africa’s tied with Iran were already a subject of concern in the White House.