South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has spoken with billionaire Elon Musk regarding “misinformation and distortions about South Africa,” the presidency announced on Tuesday.
During the discussion, Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to constitutional principles, including the rule of law, justice, fairness, and equality.
The call took place on Monday, a day after former U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to cut aid to South Africa over claims of mistreatment of White farmers.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump demanded a full investigation into allegations that South Africa was seizing land and discriminating against certain groups. He described the situation as involving “massive” human rights violations but did not provide evidence.
Ramaphosa denied claims that the government was confiscating land, emphasizing South Africa’s willingness to engage with the Trump administration on its land reform policies.
Trump’s remarks echo similar concerns he raised in 2018 about South Africa’s land redistribution efforts. Under apartheid, racist laws forced Black and non-White South Africans off their land, reserving it for White ownership. Since the country’s transition to democracy in 1994, the government has pursued land reform to address historical injustices.
Despite these efforts, economic inequality remains stark, with Black South Africans, who make up around 80% of the population, owning only a small share of the land.
Last month, Ramaphosa signed a new law outlining conditions for land expropriation, including cases where compensation might not be required.
Musk, a South African-born billionaire and the head of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, has previously criticized Ramaphosa’s policies. On Monday, he accused the president of enforcing “openly racist ownership laws” in a post on X, the platform he owns.
Ramaphosa defended South Africa’s legal framework, stating that, like many other nations, the country balances land expropriation for public use with property rights protection.
In response to Trump’s threat to cut aid, Ramaphosa pointed out that aside from a major HIV/AIDS relief initiative, U.S. financial support to South Africa is minimal.