South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has raised concerns with Elon Musk about “disinformation” following comments made by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump had claimed that the South African government was “confiscating land,” referring to a recently signed land expropriation act. Ramaphosa addressed the issue during a conversation with Musk on Tuesday.
Vincent Magwenya, Ramaphosa’s spokesman, confirmed that the president expressed concern over Trump’s statements and Musk’s subsequent response. The president highlighted the potential spread of misinformation.
Trump’s remarks, posted on social media Sunday, sparked Musk to accuse Ramaphosa’s administration of enforcing “openly racist ownership laws.” The claims were linked to the Expropriation Act passed in January.
Ramaphosa swiftly rejected these accusations, calling the act a “constitutionally mandated legal process.” He emphasized that it was aimed at ensuring public access to land in a fair and just manner, not arbitrary confiscations.
The Expropriation Act allows the government to seize property in public interest, sometimes with “nil compensation.” However, attempts must be made to negotiate fair compensation with property owners.
Musk’s statements on racial laws may also stem from South Africa’s black empowerment policy, which requires companies to offer 30 percent equity to historically disadvantaged groups. This policy has reportedly delayed the licensing of Musk’s Starlink service in South Africa.