Latest news with #McebisiJonas
IOL News
7 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
South Africa's ambassador to the US still not appointed
Special envoy Mcebisi Jonas was not part of the South African delegation that met US President Donald Trump recently, but he remains a Special envoy to the US. South Africa is yet to appoint an ambassador to the United States. Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola, confirmed that a new ambassador has not been appointed since the expulsion of Ebrahim Rassool in March. Rassool was given 72 hours to leave the US after he was expelled by US secretary of state Marco Rubio for making comments during a webinar where he accused US President Donald Trump's administration of supremacism. "The appointment of an ambassador is the president's prerogative. It is under consideration of the president at the moment. "Mr Mcebisi Jonas remains as South Africa's special envoy to the United States," said Phiri.
News24
25-05-2025
- Politics
- News24
What's in City Press: Behind the scenes of Cyril's White House visit
SA's visit to the White House: Where was Mcebisi Jonas? SA's newly appointed special envoy to the US, Mcebisi Jonas, was conspicuously absent during President Cyril Ramaphosa's visit to the White House earlier this week. We're gambling our money away, even social grants More and more residents in SA, including the poor who receive social grants, are turning to online gambling and sports betting. SARS wants MaMkhize's bodyguard to testify at tax inquiry More woes are piling up for troubled businesswoman Shauwn 'MaMkhize' Mkhize, with the revenue collector now dragging one of her closest associates to give evidence against her at the ongoing inquiry into her unpaid taxes. The day Ramaphosa's spine of an eel served SA well Contrary to what critics might say, President Cyril Ramaphosa did well to visit the White House and did well to control his temper even under the most extreme provocation, writes Mondli Makhanya Speaker blows R6.5m on two luxury cars Limpopo legislature speaker Makoma Makhurupetje has allegedly spent more than R6 million of taxpayers' money in under seven months on two expensive luxury cars. Pupil crashes teacher's car after taking it for a joyride The vehicle of a teacher from Jan Kempdorp in the Northern Cape was severely damaged after one of the Grade 11 pupils, who were supposed to wash it, drove it through the town without her permission and ended up in a water canal. With only a week left before the current lottery operating licence expires, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau is expected to announce the Sizekhaya Consortium as the new lotto operator to replace Ithuba. Matjhabeng EPWP scandal: 'Politically connected' score R65k salaries while youth are shut out Allegations of rampant abuse of the expanded public works programme (EPWP) have rocked the Free State's Matjhabeng Local Municipality, with claims that politically connected individuals are earning more than R60 000 a month under a programme meant to lift unemployed and low-income South Africans out of poverty. PSL refutes MaMkhize's claims that Royal AM were unfairly expelled The PSL has rejected beleaguered businesswoman Shauwn 'MaMkhize' Mkhize's proposition that her club, Royal AM's expulsion from the league was procedurally unfair. Internet-famous 'doctor Mattew' demands R2m for unlawful arrest Controversial social media content creator, Matthew Lani, who was once an admired, famous 'young doctor' on TikTok, is demanding R2 million from the police minister for unlawful arrest. Court-ordered intervention in FS collapses amid council defiance and political obstruction. Efforts to place the Matjhabeng Local Municipality under administration, as ordered by the Free State High Court, have been derailed as internal political resistance and procedural issues stall the introduction of a provincial intervention team. Military veterans department is a 'playground for those who can't find jobs elsewhere' The department of military veterans is riddled with ANC appointments and the offspring of generals who cannot find work elsewhere. This is set out in a letter the SA National Military Veterans Association sent to Parliament's joint standing committee on defence. DA has a go at Johann Rupert over crime comments Senior DA officials have responded after business magnate Johann Rupert's statement at the White House that John Steenhuisen's party is struggling to get the murder rate on the Cape Flats under control. Ramaphosa's team discusses easing BEE barriers to entry for US companies President Cyril Ramaphosa, ahead of his departure for the US last week, asked Solly Malatsi, the minister of communication and digital technology, to expedite a policy guideline that could open the doors for Elon Musk's Starlink in SA. SA soldiers in DRC told to surrender weapons in Rwanda A soldier without a weapon is nothing more than a target. This is the sentiment expressed by SA troops stranded in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), waiting for buses to evacuate them from the conflict-stricken region. BEE group, unions accuse Chinese mining company of acting in 'bad faith' Black empowerment group, the Kopanang Empowerment Company (KEC), is crying foul, alleging that its Chinese partner, Heaven-Sent SA Sunshine Investment Company, has gone behind its back and negotiated the sale of Kopanang Mine to China Africa Precious Metals (CAPM). Banyana coach Des Ellis is working without a contract - source Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis is allegedly working without a contract. A source told City Press that Ellis's contract expired in July 2022, at the last CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco. SA's delegation to Washington DC was initially caught off guard by President Donald Trump's request to invite golf legends, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, to join the country's delegation to the White House this week. 'Your p*** too' – then former Griquas star pummeled assistant coach Fists and crude insults flew on Monday afternoon between two rugby team coaches during a practice session at the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) in Kimberley in the Northern Cape. Kaizer Chiefs will start another campaign outside the lineup of the season-opening MTN8 tournament after they finished outside the top eight for the second time in a row. A high-stakes drama is unfolding in the ABC Motsepe League as accusations of fraud threaten to derail Highlands Park's promotion ambitions. Brothers Udeme Okon and Ime Okon have endured mixed fortunes in sport this season. While Udeme is basking in glory after helping Team SA to a 4x400m gold medal at the recent World Athletics Relays, his elder brother Ime's SuperSport United has struggled throughout the PSL campaign. Although there is nothing wrong with lodging protests, waiting until the last minute raises eyebrows.
IOL News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Mcebisi Jonas' White House absence shrouded in controversy
Special envoy Mcebisi Jonas was not be part of the South African delegation that met US President Donald Trump on Wednesday. Image: FILE THE Presidency now claims Special Envoy to the US Mcebisi Jonas volunteered to skip the crucial meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and his US counterpart Donald Trump at the White House. This follows presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya's remarks that the Americans had raised some "displeasure" about Jonas's inclusion to visit the Oval Office. There were also reports that he did not hold a valid visa to the US. In a statement on Thursday, Magwenya said: "Initial interpretations of procedural matters, communicated in good faith, have been amended following confirmation that Mr. Jonas holds a valid visa for travel to the United States of America.' He said Jonas contributed to preparatory engagements before the meeting, including consultations abroad, but his absence from Washington was at his own request. In 2020, Jonas referred to Trump as "a racist, homophobic and a narcissistic right-winger", which resurfaced after his appointment as Special Envoy to the US. Magwenya indicated that the president may have to consider alternative envoys if the issues surrounding Jonas were not resolved. Sources close to Ramaphosa and the ANC said that prior to the departure of Ramaphosa's delegation, there had been disagreements on whether to take Jonas, especially if this would displease Trump. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'The majority of the president's counsel wanted Jonas to go, but others said that he would just be an obstacle for the delegation when they arrived,' a source said. Complicating matters is the fact that South Africa has yet to appoint an ambassador following the expulsion of Ibrahim Rasool who was declared "persona non grata" by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has begun the process of finding a replacement for Rasool. Several names have been touted as potential candidates to replace Rasool, including former Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel. Other names include Afrikaans political figures like former defense minister Roelf Meyer, former tourism minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, deputy justice minister Andries Nel and Ramaphosa's counsel in parliament Gerdhadus Koornhof. Political analyst Sandile Swana said Ramaphosa was not under pressure to choose any other envoy because he had met with Trump with ministers and created an opportunity for detailed conversations to take place at a ministerial level.
IOL News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Controversy over Mcebisi Jonas' absence from US meeting with Cyril Ramaphosa
Special envoy Mcebisi Jonas was not be part of the South African delegation that met US President Donald Trump on Wednesday. Image: FILE The Presidency has a statement on the absence of the Special Envoy to the United States Mcebisi Jonas from the meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump, saying that Jonas had volunteered not to attend. This despite reports indicating that Jonas had not been granted a visa by the US and was in London when the crucial meeting took place. Magwenya on Thursday confirmed that Jonas holds a valid visa for travel to the United States but had decided not to attend after being part of the preparatory process prior to the meeting. "Initial interpretations of procedural matters, communicated in good faith, have been amended following confirmation that Mr. Jonas holds a valid visa for travel to the United States of America,' Magwenya said. He said Jonas contributed to preparatory engagements before the meeting, including consultations abroad, but his absence from Washington was at his own request. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ However, it emerged that the Trump administration had raised concerns about Jonas's inclusion in the delegation, due to his previous comments about Trump. In 2020, Jonas referred to Trump as "a racist, homophobic and a narcissistic right-winger," which resurfaced after his appointment as Special Envoy to the US. Magwenya indicated that the president may have to consider alternative envoys if the issues surrounding Jonas are not resolved. Jonas' appointment came amid tensions between SA and the US, particularly in light of a recent US funding freeze due to false accusations that the SA government is readying itself to illegally grab land and were involved in a white Afrikaner genocide. Magwenya, speaking on 702 Wednesday morning, said part of the reason Jonas was not in Washington was because the Trump administration raised some "displeasure" about Jonas. Sources close to Ramaphosa and the ANC said that prior to the departure of Ramaphosa's delegation, there had been disagreements on whether to take Jonas, especially if this would displease Trump. 'The majority of the president's counsel wanted Jonas to go, but others said that he would just be an obstacle for the delegation when they arrived,' a source said. The controversy surrounding Jonas' absence has put pressure on Ramaphosa to choose an ambassador preferable to the Trump administration. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has begun the process of finding a replacement for expelled Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, who was declared "persona non grata" by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Several names have been touted as potential candidates to replace Rasool, including former Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel. Also considered are senior Afrikaans political figures like former defense minister Roelf Meyer, former tourism minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, deputy justice minister Andries Nel and Ramaphosa's counsel in parliament Gerdhadus Koornhof. Political analyst Sandile Swana said Ramaphosa was not under pressure to choose any other envoy because he had met with Trump with ministers and created an opportunity for detailed conversations to take place at a ministerial level. 'An envoy is not an ambassador…So once the reset has been done, then an ambassador can kick in and run the operation in accordance with what would have been agreed on in these discussions,' Swana said.
IOL News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Mcebisi Jonas blocked from US meeting due to past comments on Trump
Reports states that Special envoy Mcebisi Jonas will not be part of the South African delegation meeting US President Donald Trump on Wednesday. MVEBISI Jonas's previous comments that US president Donald Trump was "a racist, homophobic and a narcissistic right-winger" blocked his inclusion from the South African delegation that visited the White House's Oval Office on Wednesday. Jonas became South Africa's presidential envoy to US but he had to catch the action from the sidelines on the say so of US government officials. THE South African Presidency has reportedly confirmed that Mcebisi Jonas, who was appointed as Special Envoy to the United States, was not part of the meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and former US President Donald Trump due to concerns raised by Trump's administration. 'Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed to me while I was speaking to @JohnPerlman on @Radio702 that part of the reason Mcebisi Jonas (presidential envoy to US) is not here because the Trump administration raised some 'displeasure' about him,' EWN journalist Clement Manyathela wrote on his X platform. According to Manyathela, Mangwenya said the president may had to consider other options should the issues not be resolved around Jonas.
