South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed a series of controversial comments made by Elon Musk regarding the country’s land ownership laws. In a social media post on Monday, the billionaire, born in South Africa, accused the country of having “openly racist ownership laws” that discriminate against white people.
The accusations came shortly after former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed South Africa was “confiscating land” and treating certain groups unfairly. Trump stated that he would suspend U.S. aid to South Africa until an investigation into the country’s policies was conducted. Trump’s remarks were primarily aimed at South Africa’s new Expropriation Act, signed by Ramaphosa last month, which allows for land expropriation without compensation in some cases, with the goal of addressing historical land inequalities.
In his response, Ramaphosa emphasized South Africa’s commitment to the rule of law, justice, fairness, and equality, which are embedded in the nation’s constitution. The president noted that no land expropriations have taken place yet and clarified that the Expropriation Act is intended to ensure equitable access to land for all South Africans.
Musk’s comments, made on his social media platform X, have raised questions about his motivations. Some analysts believe Musk’s criticism could be related to the difficulties his company, Starlink, has faced in obtaining a license to operate in South Africa. The country’s regulations require foreign companies to have 30 percent ownership by previously disadvantaged local groups, a stipulation that may have hindered Musk’s plans.
While Ramaphosa’s government continues to defend its policies, the debate highlights ongoing tensions over land reform in South Africa, as well as broader issues of racial inequality and foreign investment in the country. The comments from Musk and Trump add fuel to a contentious discussion about the balance between redressing historical injustices and maintaining economic stability and foreign relations.