President Cyril Ramaphosa calls Musk to calm Trump land row

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office issued this picture on social media along with a message about the call to Elon Musk

|Published 10:20 AM ET, Wednesday February 5, 2025|

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa recently engaged in a phone conversation with Elon Musk to address concerns over misinformation regarding South Africa’s new land expropriation law. This dialogue was initiated following U.S. President Donald Trump’s unsubstantiated claims that South Africa was “confiscating land” and mistreating certain groups, leading to his threat to suspend over $400 million in U.S. aid to the country.

Elon Musk, a South African-born entrepreneur and ally of President Trump, has been a vocal critic of South Africa’s land reform policies, alleging that they are discriminatory against white citizens. In their discussion, President Ramaphosa emphasized South Africa’s commitment to justice, fairness, and equality, as enshrined in the nation’s constitution.

The new Expropriation Act, signed into law by President Ramaphosa, aims to address historical disparities in land ownership resulting from the apartheid era. The legislation permits the government to expropriate private land under specific conditions deemed equitable and in the public interest, with provisions for cases where no compensation is provided. The South African government has clarified that no land has been confiscated under this law and that the policy seeks to ensure equitable public access to land.

This incident underscores the complex interplay between international relations and domestic policies, highlighting the influence of prominent individuals like Elon Musk on diplomatic engagements. It also brings to the forefront the challenges nations face in implementing land reforms while managing international perceptions and maintaining foreign aid relationships.