South Africa has dispatched Mcebisi Jonas to Washington in a last-ditch attempt to stabilise a rapidly deteriorating trade relationship with the US. While Jonas heads west to preserve access to critical markets, the more pressing question remains: Have we tested what’s simmering in our own pot?

This is not simply a diplomatic mission — it’s a national reckoning. As Jonas speaks to power in Washington, his message resonates with two audiences: American business and political leaders questioning South Africa’s reliability, and South Africans reflecting on whether we still deserve the legitimacy Jonas is expected to defend abroad...