Presidency dismisses concerns over Jonas's Trump remarks
The Presidency has addressed concerns that Mcebisi Jonas’ previous remarks about Donald Trump might be a hurdle in his new role as special envoy to the US.
President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed the former deputy finance minister to the role this week.
In 2020, Jonas called Trump as a racist and homophobe.
South Africa's ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, was kicked out of the country last month after he made comments about Trump and his administration.
READ: SA Presidency confident of G20 success with or without Trump
But Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya doesn't see an issue for Jonas saying appointments such as his are different from those ambassadors and don’t require extensive vetting.
"Normally when heads of state appoint envoys, it's people that they know, it's people that they have a professional and political history with. It's people that on a basic assessment will have immediate suitability to the role."
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