President Cyril Ramaphosa has engaged in discussions with Elon Musk regarding what he described as “misinformation and distortions” surrounding South Africa, following a controversial statement from US President Donald Trump threatening to suspend aid to the country, Al Jazeera reports.
The dispute arose after Trump accused South Africa of confiscating land and mistreating “certain classes of people,” seemingly referencing the country’s land reform policy aimed at addressing racial inequalities stemming from the apartheid era.
Musk, the South African-born billionaire and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, who maintains a close relationship with Trump, weighed in on the matter via a post on X, accusing South Africa of having “openly racist ownership laws” that allegedly victimize white people.
Ramaphosa swiftly countered these claims, emphasizing that the government has not confiscated any property and that the land reform policy aims to ensure equitable public access to land. He reiterated the government’s commitment to a fair and legal process.
According to a statement released by the South African presidency, Ramaphosa and Musk spoke on Monday to address the issue of misinformation. The specific details of their conversation were not disclosed.
Trump’s threat to cut off funding follows his earlier announcement of a temporary freeze on nearly all foreign assistance as part of his “America First” agenda, impacting billions of dollars in global funding.
The controversy surrounds a recent bill signed into law by Ramaphosa that aims to streamline the process for the state to expropriate land in the public interest. The government maintains that the bill does not authorize arbitrary expropriation and that landowners are entitled to reach an agreement with the state.
In response to Trump’s statement on Truth Social that he would cut off all future funding to South Africa pending a full investigation, the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation expressed confidence that Trump’s advisors would use the investigative period to gain a “thorough understanding of South Africa’s policies within the framework of a constitutional democracy.”
Ramaphosa further clarified that, with the exception of the AIDS relief program administered by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), South Africa does not receive significant funding from the United States. This detail underscores the limited financial impact of Trump’s threat on the country.
