JOHANNESBURG: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday announced former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas as his special envoy to the United States to rebuild a relationship that has soured badly under President Donald Trump.

Since Trump`s return to the White House in January, the US has expelled South Africa`s ambassador and cut financial aid, citing disapprovalofits approachtoland reform and its genocide case against Washington`s ally, Israel, at the World Court.Trump has said, without citing evidence, that `South Africa is confiscating land` and that `certain classes of people` are being treated `very badly`. Jonas, who was deputy finance minister between 2014 and 2017, is currently chairman of telecoms group MTN, a role he will continue to hold alongside the envoy position.

`Jonas is entrusted with the responsibility to advance South Africa`s diplomatic, trade and bilateral priorities.

He will lead negotiations, foster strategic partnerships andengage with US government officials and private-sector leaders to promote our nation`s interests,` Ramaphosa`s office said in a statement. Jonas will be the representative of Ramaphosa and South African government in talks with the Trump administration, but his new post is different from to that of an ambassador.

In a statement issued by South Africa`s foreign affairs department, Jonas said the task before him was difficult.

`However, I believe that areas of commonality and mutual interest could beembraced to reaffirm the long ing ties between our two countries,` he said.

Jonas was an outspoken critic of corruption during his time at South Africa`s finance ministry and featured prominentlyin a judicialinquiryinto 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.

-Reuters