Mcebisi Jonas Appeals For Patience To Fix South Africa-us Ties: 'there Are No Quick Fixes'

President Cyril Ramaphosas newly appointed special envoy to the United States US, Mcebisi Jonas, has appealed for patience and time to repair South Africas diplomatic relations with Washington.

Ramaphosa announced the appointment on Monday 14 April, saying he will serve as the official representative of the President and the Government of the Republic of South Africa.

In this capacity, Mr Jonas is entrusted with the responsibility to advance South Africas diplomatic, trade and bilateral priorities, the President added.

He will lead negotiations, foster strategic partnerships and engage with US government officials and private-sector leaders to promote our nation's interests.

In a statement issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation DIRCO, Jonas thanked Ramaphosa for entrusting me with this important but challenging role.

I will do my best to promote a healthy working relationship between South Africa and the United States, he added.

He said he was fully cognisant of the difficulties that lie ahead, but believed that the two countries could embrace areas of commonality and mutual interest to reaffirm relations.

There are no quick fixes in such a complex situation. I appeal that, in the national interest, South Africans exercise patience and allow us time and space to engage fully with different stakeholders in the United States and South Africa, Jonas said.

Pretoria-Washington ties are at an all-time low following the expulsion of Ebrahim Rasool, then South Africas ambassador in Washington, last month for making comments deemed critical of US President Donald Trump.

Trump cut aid to South Africa in February and has continued to make false claims of land confiscation about the country. This is despite a high-level DIRCO delegation meeting senior US officials last month to clarify misconceptions.