MTN chairman, Mcebisi Jonas appointed as South Africa’s special envoy to the US

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the appointment of the country’s former deputy minister of finance and MTN Chairman, Mcebisi Jonas, as a special envoy to the US. The move is an effort to rebuild a relationship that has been strained between the two countries.

Jonas will be the official representative of Ramaphosa and the South African government in talks with the Trump administration. According to a statement issued by South Africa’s foreign affairs department, his new post is different to that of an ambassador.

“Jonas is entrusted with the responsibility to advance South Africa’s diplomatic, trade and bilateral priorities. He will lead negotiations, foster strategic partnerships and engage with U.S. government officials and private-sector leaders to promote our nation’s interests,” President Ramaphosa’s office said in a statement.

Jonas, who was deputy finance minister between 2014 and 2017, is currently chairman of telecoms giant, MTN Group. The group confirmed to TechCentral that Jonas’s appointment will not impact his role as chairman.

“This does not impact his role with MTN. He will continue to serve as our group chairman alongside his duties as special envoy to the US,” group chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer Nompilo Morafo said.

Jonas’s appointment as special envoy comes about a month after the US expelled South Africa’s ambassador in Washington, Ebrahim Rasool, over remarks about US foreign policy. This followed President Trump’s cut of financial aid, citing disapproval of its approach to land reform and its genocide case against Washington’s ally Israel at the World Court.

Jonas was an outspoken critic of corruption during his time at South Africa’s finance ministry and featured prominently in a judicial inquiry into influence-peddling during former president Jacob Zuma’s leadership.

He told the inquiry he was offered the finance minister job as well as large sums of money by the Gupta brothers, friends of Zuma. Zuma and the Guptas denied wrongdoing.

MTN renews operating license in South Sudan

MTN South Sudan has renewed its operating license from the country’s National Communication Authority. The license will allow it to operate in the country for another 15 years.

This comes after MTN Group president and CEO Ralph Mupita expressed sadness over the impact of the country’s civil war on the company’s operations last week, but is confident that peace will be restored soon.

“The operating conditions are very challenging, there is a civil war going on between the Rapid Forces and the Sudanese Army. It’s almost two years since the civil war broke out in Sudan, at a tremendous cost of human life”, he said.

“It remains challenging, but the operation is finding its growth at the moment. We continue to watch the space; hopefully, the war comes to an end. It’s a big part of Africa; it’s a market with potential great growth in peaceful conditions”, he concluded.

Commenting on the new license, MTN South Sudan CEO, Ali Monzer, underlined MTN’s commitment to continuing to provide meaningful telecom, financial, and digital solutions that benefit individuals, businesses, and communities across South Sudan.

“This is more than just a license; it’s a reaffirmation of our dedication to being a key enabler of economic and social development in South Sudan for the next 15 years and beyond,” he added.