Musk criticizes S-Africa due to ‘white genocide’

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has criticized his birth country, South Africa, accusing its government of actively supporting “white genocide.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Musk claimed that his satellite internet company, Starlink, was denied a license to operate in the country because he is “not black.”His comments come amid tensions between Pretoria and Washington over a controversial land expropriation law signed in January. The law permits land seizures without compensation as part of efforts to address historical inequalities in land ownership. White South Africans, particularly the Afrikaner minority, currently own approximately 75% of the nation’s freehold farmland. US President Donald Trump has condemned the policy, calling it an “unjust action” targeting white landowners. In response, he signed an executive order directing US agencies to cut aid to South Africa, pressuring the government to repeal the measure.Musk, a close advisor to Trump, has been vocal about his opposition to the land law. On Sunday, he shared footage of a rally led by Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) opposition party. The video showed demonstrators chanting a slogan that Musk interpreted as a call for violence against white South Africans.“A whole arena chanting about killing white people,” Musk wrote. “Where is the outrage? Why is there no coverage by the legacy media?”He further alleged that a “major political party in South Africa is actively promoting white genocide,” apparently referring to the EFF. Musk also reiterated his claim that Starlink was refused a license due to his race.The rally in question marked the anniversary of the 1960 Sharpeville massacre, when South African police killed 69 black protesters during an anti-apartheid demonstration. The chant—“Kill the Boer, kill the farmer”—has long been controversial in South Africa. Malema, known for singing the slogan at rallies, considers it part of the country’s history, though he has previously been found guilty of hate speech by the ruling African National Congress (ANC).Despite criticism from Washington, the South African government maintains that its land policy seeks to correct historical injustices and is not racially discriminatory. Officials have also called for discussions with the US to address what they describe as “misinformation” surrounding the new law.Responding to Musk’s allegations, Foreign Ministry spokesman Clayson Monyela dismissed claims of racial bias in Starlink’s licensing issue, stating that the company was simply required to comply with local regulations before operating in the country.