The Tesla CEO’s disregard for the country’s laws undermines the relationship he is “forcefully seeking,” spokesman Vincent Magwenya said
South Africa’s government has accused Elon Musk of spreading lies and disinformation and showing no respect for the country’s laws after the tech billionaire renewed claims that white farmers were being persecuted there.
Musk, who was born in Pretoria, retweeted a video on Monday showing a long line of crosses at what was purported to be a burial site, with a caption claiming “each cross represents a white farmer who was murdered in South Africa.”
In response, Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, told the SpaceX and Tesla owner to “move on,” as the relationship he is “forcefully seeking” will not happen due to his disregard for the country’s “transformation laws.”
Musk’s criticism of South Africa has also centered around Pretoria’s Black Economic Empowerment laws, which he claims are discriminatory and have prevented his company, Starlink, from operating in the country.
“South Africa won’t allow Starlink to be licensed, even though I was BORN THERE, simply because I am not Black!” he wrote earlier on Sunday.
Magwenya responded to that comment saying “there are currently 193 member states in the United Nations. Surely, there's good money to be made out of 192 markets. It's okay to move on!”
There are currently 193 member states in the United Nations. Surely, there's good money to be made out of 192 markets. It's okay to move on! https://t.co/eLSl0Bp52c
— Vincent Magwenya ???????? (@SpokespersonRSA) April 12, 2026
The dispute over the land reform policy and a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice over its military’s conduct in Gaza have strained relations between Pretoria and Washington, with Trump freezing US assistance to South Africa.
Trump has repeatedly accused the South African government of permitting genocide against Afrikaners – the descendants of Dutch colonists – who make up about 7% of the country’s population.
Pretoria denies these allegations, calling them misinformation, and has defended its land reform as part of broader efforts to address apartheid-era disparities in land ownership.