Presidency clarifies Mcebisi Jonas' absence from Ramaphosa's meeting with Trump

JOHANNESBURG - The Presidency has moved to clarify why Mcebisi Jonas didn’t join President Cyril Ramaphosa on his official visit to the United States (US), dismissing speculation around his status.
 
Jonas, a former deputy finance minister, was part of preparatory meetings ahead of Ramaphosa’s bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington.
 
The Presidency said that while Jonas holds a valid visa, and no formal inquiries were raised about his role or conduct, Jonas requested to stay behind.
  
The clarity comes after Trump’s assertion that a "white genocide" was underway in South Africa, claiming it’s being ignored by the media.
 
During Wednesday’s meeting at the White House, Ramaphosa rejected the claims, but stressed that isolated attacks on white farmers cannot be compared to the systemic oppression faced by Black South Africans under apartheid.
 
On the matter of Jonas missing the all-important meeting, in a statement, the Presidency said there was nothing untoward about his absence, adding that it had no impact on the president’s programme.