Pretoria – The Presidency has cautioned South Africans against “treating Democratic Alliance (DA) disinformation on matters of international relations and diplomacy as official government policy”.
In a strongly worded statement, the Presidency on Tuesday, 15 July 2025, said: “The Democratic Alliance’s latest effort to embarrass President Ramaphosa’s Special Envoy to North America, Mr. Mcebisi Jonas, 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, the second largest party in the Government of National Unity, had earlier announced that the U.S. had rejected Jonas’ Visa request.
The statement added: “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 facts around this matter include the reality that Special Envoys do not present diplomatic credentials to host countries in the way designated Heads of Mission or other diplomats are.
“While envoys are not required to account publicly for the work they undertake, the President’s own accounts of his performance include elements facilitated by envoys.”
The Presidency explained that 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”.
The statement further stated: “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.
“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, President Ramaphosa has not had a need for Mr Jonas to visit the United States on urgent business.”
The Presidency said it was therefore concerned about the DA’s persistent campaign against South Africa’s national interest and its posture “of trying to embarrass and belittle our country and in this specific circumstance, Mr. Jonas”.
The Presidency said this campaign has its origins in a DA visit to the United States earlier this year, to advance an ideological agenda rather than the 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 Presidency said.
“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 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.”
