Elon Musk Wades Into Trump-ramaphosa Land Expropriation Spat

South African-born US entrepreneur Elon Musk has alleged that South Africa has openly racist ownership laws.

He was commenting on President Cyril Ramaphosas response to US President Donald Trumps threat to cut off future funding to South Africa for confiscating land.

South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY. It is a bad situation that the Radical Left Media doesn't want to so much as mention. A massive Human Rights VIOLATION, at a minimum, is happening for all to see, Trump claimed in a post on Truth Social on Monday 3 February.

The United States won't stand for it - we will act. Also, I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!

In response, the Presidency denied confiscating land. The recently adopted Expropriation Act is not a confiscation instrument, but a constitutionally mandated legal process that ensures public access to land in an equitable and just manner as guided by the Constitution, it said.

South Africa, like the US and other countries, has always had expropriation laws that balance the need for public usage of land and the protection of rights of property owners.

Quoting Ramaphosas response on X, Musk asked , Why do you have openly racist ownership laws?

Musk was apparently referring to pro-transformation laws such as Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment B-BBEE, whose aim is to advance economic transformation and enhance the economic participation of black people in the South African economy, according to the government.

The entrepreneur owns space technology company SpaceX, whose division Starlink is eyeing entry into South Africa to provide internet services.

SpaceX argued against B-BBEE in a recent submission to the Independent Communications Authority of SAs ICASA Consultation on the Proposed New Licensing Framework for Satellite Service.