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President Cyril Ramaphosa owes the nation an update on progress. if any, with the nation’s diplomatic relationship with the US.

If the President has retained Mcebisi Jonas as his Special Envoy to North America despite knowing for months that the US government had denied him a diplomatic visa, as alleged by the DA, it does not augur well for South Africa’s hopes to dissuade Washington from imposing a minimum 30% trade tariff from next month.

While it is doubtful that a South African envoy or ambassador acceptable to President Trump’s administration would have made any difference to the US’s tariff decisions, it seems fairly obvious that it would be to South Africa’s benefit to have a trusted point person in Washington.

If Jonas’ absence from the President’s delegation to the White House in May was due to visa restrictions, the public should have been honestly informed. 

Continuing to present him as an active envoy in such circumstances can only be described as deception and a betrayal of trust.

Issued by Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General