It has been widely presumed that South Africa has been scrambling to mend ties with the US before tariffs of up to 30% kick in on August 1, but the Democratic Alliance (DA) is claiming that Special Envoy to the US Mcebisi Jonas was denied a visa to the US as far back as May.

Jonas was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in April, amid tensions with the US and following the expulsion of former Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool. In May, the Presidency stated that “Mr. Jonas holds a valid visa for travel to the United States of America”.

However, Creamer Media reported in April that following his appointment, Jonas might face the “cold shoulder” from the US following public comments made by Jonas in 2020, in which he disparaged US President Donald Trump.

The comments could have seen Jonas being given the “cold shoulder” in Washington DC, assuming he was even allowed to enter the country, retired US Army Colonel and current independent journalist and political analyst Chris Wyatt told Creamer Media then.

The DA alleges that the US government rejected Jonas’s credentials then and does not recognise him as South Africa’s official interlocutor, citing "senior sources in the US administration" in response to questions posed by Polity. t

DA spokesperson on International Relations and Cooperation Emma Powell said its sources did not provide reasons for the refusal but added that government was repeatedly advised that Jonas was not an acceptable representative and that an alternative should be appointed.

"[Washington] DC have grown frustrated that they do not have any credible and official interlocutor with whom to negotiate," Powell said to Polity.

The DA wants an urgent parliamentary briefing from the Presidency on the matter and answers on why the Presidency defended Jonas’s appointment as late as June.

“Now that the nation is aware that there is in fact no special representative advocating for South Africa in Washington on behalf of the Presidency, it is clear that our economy may in coming weeks lose billions of rands in exports when liberation day tariffs come into effect,” Powell warned.  

The DA is demanding that a “credible envoy” be appointed to repair the relationship between South Africa and the US.

GOOD Party secretary-general Brett Herron urged Ramaphosa to update the nation on the matter, adding that it was doubtful that any South African envoy acceptable to Trump would have dissuaded his decision on the proposed tariffs. However, he conceded that South Africa would have benefited from having a trusted person in Washington. 

"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. 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," Herron stated.