Pretoria, South Africa — President Cyril Ramaphosa is standing firm behind Mcebisi Jonas, South Africa’s special envoy to the United States, despite renewed controversy over a resurfaced 2020 video in which Jonas slammed former U.S. President Donald Trump as a “racist, homophobic, narcissistic right-winger.”
The comments, made during a public lecture while Jonas held no official government post, have sparked debate—particularly as diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and South Africa remain fragile.
Speaking on behalf of the President, spokesperson Vincent Magwenya clarified that the remarks were made in Jonas’ personal capacity, and are not reflective of South Africa’s foreign policy stance. He added, “This is not the first time a political figure has expressed personal views, and the former Trump administration is no stranger to criticism.”
The issue emerges at a sensitive time. Relations between the two nations have been strained by Trump’s past criticisms of South Africa’s land reform policies and the expulsion of former ambassador Ebrahim Rasool. Some critics argue Jonas’ remarks may complicate efforts to rebuild trust with U.S. officials, especially if Trump returns to political prominence.
However, Ramaphosa is betting on Jonas’ credibility and experience—particularly his tenure as Deputy Finance Minister and his role in exposing state corruption during the Zuma era—to restore and reinforce ties with Washington.
“Jonas brings a track record of integrity and deep knowledge of global economic diplomacy,” a senior government insider said. “That’s what South Africa needs right now — not perfect history, but proven leadership.”
Whether Washington will overlook past insults for future collaboration remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: South Africa is prioritizing substan
