Errol Musk, father of billionaire Elon Musk, facilitated a call between his son and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday after Trump accused South Africa of land seizures and threatened to cut $400 million in U.S. aid.
Elon Musk and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke on Monday after Trump claimed South Africa was "confiscating land" and mistreating "certain classes of people," a statement that triggered market concerns and sent the South African rand into decline.
The conversation was facilitated by Musk’s father, Errol Musk, who revealed that he was contacted by a senior aide to Ramaphosa while dining at a restaurant. "I was asked if I could arrange a quick talk between Ramaphosa and Elon, so I did," Musk senior told Reuters, showing messages from the presidential aide as evidence.
Errol Musk speculated that his son likely urged Ramaphosa to reconsider land ownership laws, stating: "I can only imagine that Elon would have said, ‘We want to help you, but you have to quit this war on white people in South Africa.’"
The dispute stems from South Africa’s new land reform law, which allows the government to expropriate land "in the public interest," in some cases without compensation. Critics, including Musk, argue that the policy unfairly targets white landowners, though the South African government denies this, insisting it is part of a broader economic reform strategy.
Trump’s statement, made on his platform Truth Social, led to a 2% drop in the South African rand and fears over the potential loss of U.S. financial aid, much of which supports HIV/AIDS treatment programmes.
Ramaphosa later confirmed his discussion with Musk but did not comment on its details. Meanwhile, his office dismissed Errol Musk’s remarks as "personal opinions" that do not reflect government policy.
The situation remains tense as South Africa seeks to maintain international funding while addressing historic land inequalities.
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Eemeli Peltonen, a member of the Social Democratic Party, died in the country’s Parliament House in Helsinki on Tuesday.
Israeli officials have confirmed that they are closely studying the 60-day ceasefire proposal to which Hamas agreed to on Monday.
Kazakhstan is accelerating efforts to overhaul its railway infrastructure in a bid to enhance efficiency and reinforce its role as a crucial Eurasian transit corridor, the government announced on Tuesday.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
'Superman' continued to dominate the summer box office, pulling in another $57.25 million in its second weekend, as theatres welcome a wave of blockbuster competition following a challenging few years for the film industry.
Honduras has brought back mask mandates as COVID-19 cases and a new variant surge nationwide.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated he plans to pressure the Smithsonian Institution, a leading museum and research complex on American history and culture, to comply with his demands, similar to his approach with colleges and universities by threatening to withhold federal funding.
Armed bandits stormed a mosque in northern Nigeria’s Katsina state during morning prayers, leaving dozens dead and many injured.
Flash floods and cloudbursts in Northwest Pakistan have killed at least 365 people over five days, displacing thousands as authorities warn of more storms as monsoon rains continue.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed that the bloc will continue targeting Russia’s war economy, with a new sanctions package expected by next month, while emphasizing the need for strong security guarantees for Ukraine.
Eemeli Peltonen, a member of the Social Democratic Party, died in the country’s Parliament House in Helsinki on Tuesday.
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