Pretoria – The Presidency has cautioned South Africans towards “treating Democratic Alliance (DA) disinformation on issues of worldwide relations and diplomacy as official authorities coverage”.
In a strongly worded assertion, the Presidency on Tuesday, 15 July 2025, mentioned: “The Democratic Alliance’s newest effort to embarrass President Ramaphosa’s Special Envoy to North America, Mr. Mcebisi Jonas, includes claims – within the DA’s framing – that the United States has rejected Mr Jonas’s “credentials” and that Mr Jonas is due to this fact unable to carry out his position as Special Envoy”.
The DA, the second largest social gathering within the Government of National Unity, had earlier introduced that the U.S. had rejected Jonas’ Visa request.
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The assertion added: “The DA seeks so as to add sensationalism to its declare by suggesting President Ramaphosa and Mr. Jonas face a disaster in view of the United States’ pending implementation of commerce tariffs introduced a number of days in the past by President Donald Trump.
“The information round this matter embrace the truth that Special Envoys don’t current diplomatic credentials to host international locations in the best way designated Heads of Mission or different diplomats are.
“While envoys will not be required to account publicly for the work they undertake, the President’s personal accounts of his efficiency embrace components facilitated by envoys.”
The Presidency defined that Jonas’s outreach doesn’t in any approach supersede the main position performed by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in “our troublesome however constructive commerce negotiations with the United States, or in our diplomatic relations with this longstanding associate”.
The assertion additional acknowledged: “Mr Jonas has, nevertheless, performed an necessary position in working with the DTIC to develop the commerce proposals through which South Africa is presently participating the United States in good religion and with the expectation of mutually helpful phrases.
“Similarly, he has been helping DIRCO in authorities’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 in addition to his Working Visit to Washington in May 2025, President Ramaphosa has not had a necessity for Mr Jonas to go to the United States on pressing enterprise.”
The Presidency mentioned it was due to this fact involved in regards to the DA’s persistent marketing campaign towards South Africa’s nationwide curiosity and its posture “of attempting to embarrass and belittle our nation and on this particular circumstance, Mr. Jonas”.
The Presidency mentioned this marketing campaign has its origins in a DA go to to the United States earlier this 12 months, to advance an ideological agenda somewhat than the nationwide curiosity.
“The DA has positioned itself as a part of a right-wing nexus that seeks to make use of a overseas state to impact modifications to democratically developed nationwide insurance policies in our personal nation,” the Presidency mentioned.
“The DA is attempting cheaply however dangerously to take advantage of a vital engagement between South Africa and the United States to protest President Ramaphosa’s elimination of Mr. Andrew Whitfield as Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition.
“The DA’s pronouncements and insults towards international locations and worldwide organisations – such because the Republic of Cuba or the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees offends South Africa’s worldwide relations and posture.
“‘If the DA had been to achieve undermining South Africa relations with varied nations or establishments, the social gathering will hurt the viability of companies and livelihoods of a whole bunch of 1000’s of South Africans who work in sectors that rely on the enlargement of our commerce relations with the world.”
