· X post
Musk accuses South Africa of 'openly racist ownership laws' after Trump land-seizure claims
Why do you have openly racist ownership laws?
What he said or did
Musk wrote to President Ramaphosa on X: Why do you have openly racist ownership laws?
following President Trump's claim that South Africa was confiscating land and his threat to cut funding.
Background
In January 2025 President Ramaphosa signed the Expropriation Act, which allows expropriation in the public interest; the government says it cannot be arbitrary.
Official response
The Presidency said Ramaphosa spoke with Musk about issues of misinformation and distortions
about South Africa. Ramaphosa said the government had not confiscated any land; the foreign ministry said the act was not exceptional.
Fact-checks and findings
NPR reported in May 2025 that South African authorities had not confiscated any farms under the new expropriation law.
What happened next
On 7 February 2025 Trump froze US aid to South Africa, citing the Expropriation Act, an account of the law that South Africa disputed (AFP via EWN).
Sources
- Al Jazeera4 Feb 2025
- TimesLIVE3 Feb 2025
- EWN (AFP)8 Feb 2025
- NPR (via WYSU)21 May 2025
This entry records what was publicly said or done, as reported by the sources above. Quotes are attributed to the person who made them.
