Elon Musk , the South Africa –born entrepreneur and informal adviser to President Donald Trump, has demanded that Pretoria “repeal the 100+ racist laws that discriminate against anyone who is not black" labelling it "Apartheid version 2”. His comments comes amid a fierce diplomatic row sparked by Trump’s decision to grant refugee status to white Afrikaner farmers—whom both he and Musk have repeatedly claimed face a “white genocide” in South Africa.
His remarks came in response to a video of President Cyril Ramaphosa denying allegations of racial violence or systemic targeting of white South Africans. “We all know as South Africans, both black and white, that there's no genocide here,” Ramaphosa said in the video, rejecting claims of state-sanctioned hostility against any group. “We are not genociders... We are a peace-loving country, a country that is committed to transformation... without distinguishing whether this one is black, this one is white.”
His comments arrive as President Ramaphosa prepares for a crucial visit to Washington to meet US President Donald Trump. The visit is widely seen as a high-stakes attempt to mend ties following rising tensions over race, land policy, and international litigation. Trump’s administration has expressed strong disapproval of Pretoria’s land reform legislation and South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. The US has recently expelled South Africa’s ambassador, imposed tariffs, and cut aid, escalating diplomatic friction.
Musk’s accusation also aligns with a wave of controversy surrounding Trump’s offer of “refugee” status to white South Africans, particularly Afrikaners. More than 8,000 have applied to join the programme, despite Ramaphosa’s insistence that they do not qualify as refugees. “When you run away, you are a coward,” he told reporters earlier this week, labelling their departure as abandonment of the country’s democratic project.
The South African government has repeatedly pushed back against narratives of white persecution, branding them as conspiracies. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said this week that “false stories” of genocide were being used to undermine South Africa’s international standing.
His remarks came in response to a video of President Cyril Ramaphosa denying allegations of racial violence or systemic targeting of white South Africans. “We all know as South Africans, both black and white, that there's no genocide here,” Ramaphosa said in the video, rejecting claims of state-sanctioned hostility against any group. “We are not genociders... We are a peace-loving country, a country that is committed to transformation... without distinguishing whether this one is black, this one is white.”
His comments arrive as President Ramaphosa prepares for a crucial visit to Washington to meet US President Donald Trump. The visit is widely seen as a high-stakes attempt to mend ties following rising tensions over race, land policy, and international litigation. Trump’s administration has expressed strong disapproval of Pretoria’s land reform legislation and South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. The US has recently expelled South Africa’s ambassador, imposed tariffs, and cut aid, escalating diplomatic friction.
Musk’s accusation also aligns with a wave of controversy surrounding Trump’s offer of “refugee” status to white South Africans, particularly Afrikaners. More than 8,000 have applied to join the programme, despite Ramaphosa’s insistence that they do not qualify as refugees. “When you run away, you are a coward,” he told reporters earlier this week, labelling their departure as abandonment of the country’s democratic project.
The South African government has repeatedly pushed back against narratives of white persecution, branding them as conspiracies. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said this week that “false stories” of genocide were being used to undermine South Africa’s international standing.
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