Scores of South Africans have come forward to publicly dispel claims made by Elon Musk about the country. This includes comments that his internet satellite service, Starlink, cannot operate in his home country due to “super racist” laws.
The world’s richest man was born in Pretoria and now resides in the US. He has supported claims made by President Donald Trump about the “genocide of white people” – comments the South African government has deemed disinformation.
SOUTH AFRICANS SLAM ELON MUSK
In response to another controversial tweet about his home country, many South Africans rallied together to call out Elon Musk.
Podcaster Penuel Mlotshwa replied to the world’s richest man: “I’m convinced that you support Apartheid and the oppression of black people. That’s the only rationale for PRETENDING not to understand South African laws that aim to redress the past”.
Businessman Rutendo Matinyarare commented: “No different to how you are racist to non-whites. You soft-block influential black voices that seek to advance Africa and push rightwing racism and gaslighting on your platform”.
Sports broadcaster Robert Marawa claimed that Elon belonged in Weskoppies, a mental health institution.
“What time are you checking in?” he cheekily asked.
Social justice activist Ulrich Janse van Vuuren added, “The insistence on bringing Starlink into South Africa is becoming noticeably intense. It’s worth pausing to ask why. I don’t trust it”.
Here’s what others had to say:
@SteB777: “So the previous Apartheid regime you were born under wasn’t super racist? By its very nature, it was institutionalized racism. These are just facts.
@RealSihleIV: “Why do you want to bring Starlink to a racist country?”
@Mothematiks: “Elon, please keep South Africa’s name out of your mouth. Respectfully”.
WHAT DID HE TWEET?
On the X app – which Elon Musk owns – he agreed with a user who condemned South Africa’s enforcement of BEE in the telecoms sector.
User @gailalfaratx stated that “Elon’s Starlink wants to drop free, unlimited, super-fast internet into 5 000 rural South African schools, but SA’s bureaucracy insists on saying no”.
The user added: “All they’re asking? A normal licence to operate in SA”.
The X user suggested that Starlink would invest R500 million in providing internet services at rural schools, as an alternative to the transformative legislation.
The post continued: “Come on, South Africa, don’t be the only country turning down free internet for millions of learners.
“Elon Musk was born in South Africa, the very place that is telling him no to such a generous offer!”
Musk agreed with the X user’s views, adding, “The South African government is super racist against anyone who isn’t Black. Just a fact. It’s literally in the laws”.
Elon Musk’s Starlink – which falls under SpaceX – has thus far refused to comply with transformative legislation – like Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) – which governs telecom licences in South Africa. This requires a 30% local shareholding to foreign investors.
Musk has argued that the law is “racist” and discriminates against him as he is “not black”.
