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Following billionaire Elon Musk’s explosive rant accusing the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) of ‘actively promoting white genocide’, the controversial post – which garnered 45.1 million views since Saturday – subsequently sparked heated debates and mixed reactions from the X community – both locally and internationally.

In the plethora of comments under the post, a mix of Americans, South Africans and other global citizens shared sentiments of agreement with Musk’s statements, expressing that South Africa’s white minority has long been enduring a ‘systematic’ attack, with some even calling for sanctions to address the country’s ‘crisis’:

On the other side of the coin, a significant portion of X users from across the globe clapped back at Musk’s notions, accusing Musk of deliberately spreading dangerous misinformation about South Africa and fuelling dangerous rhetoric without cognisance of the potential consequences of doing so:

This is not the first time that Malema finds himself to be the target of Elon Musk’s rants. Last month, the South African-born DOGE leader took to the social media platform to call for the party leader to be declared an ‘international criminal’.

This is also not the first time that the EFF has come under fire for this particular struggle song, nor is it the first time that Musk has brought it up. Last month, the Tesla CEO commented on a two-year-old clip of Malema chanting ‘Kill the boer, kill the farmer’ at a rally attended by thousands which had resurfaced.

‘He is chanting kill the white farmers to a cheering stadium,’ the comment read.

In 2023, Musk commented, ‘they are openly pushing for genocide of white people in South Africa,’ on a video of Malema singing the anti-apartheid song at the EFF’s 10th anniversary celebrations that was shared with him on his social media platform.

As previously reported and pointed out in some of the comments, the Equality Court ruled in 2022 that the singing of the struggle song ‘did not constitute hate speech and deserves to be protected under the rubric of freedom of speech – it articulates the failure of the current government to address issues of economic empowerment and land division’.

The South African Government has also dismissed claims of an orchestrated ‘white genocide’, labelling such narratives as unfounded and harmful.

Tech magnate Elon Musk has publicly accused the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) of allegedly promoting violence against white citizens following the enactment of a controversial land expropriation law in South Africa.

At the EFF’s Sharpeville rally on Human Rights Day, the party sang the struggle song Dubula ibhunu – loosely translated as ‘Shoot the boer’ or ‘Kill the boer’.

EFF leader Julius Malema performed the song on stage, stating that the party does not acknowledge Human Rights Day but instead honours those who lost their lives during the Sharpeville massacre in 1960.

In response, Musk shared the video of EFF chanting the controversial slogans.

‘Very few people know that there is a major political party in South Africa that is actively promoting white genocide. The video below was just yesterday,’ he wrote.

‘A whole arena chanting about killing white people.’

Musk further criticised the lack of international media coverage, saying: ‘Where is the outrage? Why is there no coverage by the legacy media?’.

He also drew attention to what he sees as racial discrimination in South Africa, claiming: ‘Starlink can’t get a license to operate in South Africa simply because I’m not black. How is that right?’.

Musk’s comments extended to the South African government’s recent land reform policies. He referenced the Expropriation Act, signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 23 January 2025, which allows the expropriation of land without compensation under specific circumstances to address historical land ownership imbalances from the apartheid era.

‘A month ago, the South African government passed a law legalising taking property from white people at will with no payment,’ Musk said.

The law has garnered mixed reactions. Supporters argue it is a necessary step toward rectifying past injustices and promoting equitable distribution.

The African National Congress (ANC) has welcomed the bill, highlighting its alignment with constitutional provisions and its role in advancing land reform.

Opponents, however, express concerns about potential economic impacts and property rights violations.

Internationally, the law has faced criticism, with US President Donald Trump announcing a suspension of aid to South Africa, citing discriminatory practices. However, he did not provide specific evidence for these claims.

Musk’s remarks have further intensified debates surrounding South Africa’s land reform policies and racial dynamics. His assertion that Starlink, his satellite internet company, was denied a license to operate in South Africa ‘simply because I’m not black’ adds another layer to the discourse on economic and regulatory challenges faced by foreign enterprises in the country.

This is not the first time Musk has raised this issue. Earlier this month, he posted on X, saying: ‘Starlink is not allowed to operate in South Africa, because I’m not black‘.

In response to Musk’s claims, Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) spokesperson Clayson Monyela strongly refuted the assertions, emphasising that race had nothing to do with the situation.

He said that Starlink was welcome to operate in South Africa as long as it complied with local laws.

‘Sir, that’s NOT true and you know it! It’s got nothing to do with your skin colour. Starlink is welcome to operate in South Africaa provided there’s compliance with local laws. This is a global international trade and investment principle. There are over 600 USA companies investing and operating in South Africa, all complying and thriving!

‘Microsoft just announced additional investments yesterday,’ he said.

Further amplifying Musk’s recent remarks, former US President Donald Trump shared the post on his social media platform, adding weight to the growing concern about the situation in South Africa.

The South African government has dismissed claims of an orchestrated ‘white genocide’, labelling such narratives as unfounded and harmful.

Recent court rulings have also refuted the notion of targeted attacks on white farmers, stating that crime affects all citizens, regardless of race.

For a deeper insight into the ongoing debate, watch the following report:

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Picture: @EFFSouthAfrica / X

Words: Betha Madhomu / African Insider

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