Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has found himself at the center of controversy after alleging that South Africa has racist policies. His comments came in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that the American government would halt all aid to South Africa over alleged human rights violations.
Musk took to his @elonmusk X (formerly Twitter) account to share a post from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, in which the president clarified that the government has not expropriated or confiscated any land since the passing of the Expropriation Act. Ramaphosa also pointed out that U.S. contributions account for only 17% of South Africa’s HIV/AIDS programs.
In a direct response, Musk questioned Ramaphosa about the country’s ownership laws, implying they are discriminatory. His comments reignited debates over South Africa’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) policies, which were designed to rectify historical inequalities.
Musk’s remarks come in the wake of his Starlink venture being barred from operating in South Africa due to its refusal to comply with B-BBEE regulations. The law requires that 30% of a company’s operations be owned by black-owned enterprises—something Starlink was unwilling to accommodate.
South Africans on social media were quick to fire back at Musk, with many accusing him of misunderstanding the country’s policies and history. Some defended the laws as necessary for economic transformation, while others questioned whether Musk’s stance was driven more by business interests than genuine concern for fairness.
The heated debate highlights the ongoing tensions between economic transformation policies and international business interests, with Musk now caught in the crossfire of South Africa’s complex socio-political landscape.