Jonas was appointed following a diplomatic spat between Washington and Pretoria, after the former expelled the latter’s ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, following remarks he made about the Trump administration in early March.

Magwenya says Jonas' appointment is a result of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recognition of the urgency needed in order for the two countries reset their relationship.  

He added that the issue of appointing a new ambassador is a separate matter, “The process to appoint an ambassador is a separate one. Ambassadors often have beurocratic hurdles to jump over the special envoy doesn't have the burden of beurocracy, he will be reporting directly to the president, working closely with the ministers of international relations as well as trade and industry on various specific issues that are pertinent with respect to our relationship with the United States”, he said.

Jonas’ also serves as his return to public service after he was removed from the position of the country’s Deputy Minister of Finance in 2017 in a controversial cabinet reshuffle by then-President Jacob Zuma.

The Ramaphosa administration says Jonas brings to his new diplomatic role, extensive governmental experience. He currently holds the position of Independent Non-Executive Chairman of the country’s telecommunications group, MTN, a role he will maintain alongside his responsibilities as my Special Envoy.

--- SABC---