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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Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire after U.S.-backed talks in Washington. The deal requires Hezbollah to halt attacks and withdraw from southern Lebanon, while both sides will resume direct talks later this month aimed at reaching a broader agreement.
A series of signals from Washington, including congressional testimony, a U.S. Embassy statement and a senior diplomat's visit to Tbilisi, has given Georgia's ruling party reason to declare a diplomatic reset. But Washington's message is more nuanced than Tbilisi is suggesting.
Afghan and Uzbek business officials have discussed ways to expand trade, ease transit bottlenecks and address customs challenges facing traders, according to the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI).
Armenia is set to receive a support package worth more than €50 million ($58.2 million) from the European Union (EU) after Russia, its largest trading partner, imposed restrictions on a range of Armenian exports.
Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi brought heavy rain, power cuts and transport disruption across Japan on Wednesday (3 June) as it tracked towards the greater Tokyo region.
Police officers were pelted with missiles during violent clashes at a protest near the Southampton, UK, home of convicted murderer Vickrum Digwa, as anger continued to grow over the handling of the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Henry Nowak.
Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Albania in recent days to protest against a luxury tourism project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, and his wife Ivanka Trump.
An Iranian drone and missile attack struck Kuwait International Airport early Wednesday, injuring several people, damaging Terminal 1 and forcing flight diversions, Kuwaiti authorities said.
Armenia’s parliamentary election comes at a defining moment for the South Caucasus, a region reshaped by the Garabagh conflict and broader shifts in Russia-West relations. The outcome is increasingly seen as a signal of Armenia’s future foreign policy direction and the regional balance of power.
China has criticised planned maritime boundary discussions between Japan and the Philippines, arguing that the waters involved fall within an area where Beijing claims maritime rights and jurisdiction.
U.S. President Donald Trump will attend next month's NATO leaders' summit in Türkiye, ending weeks of uncertainty over whether he would take part in a gathering expected to focus on the future of the alliance.
All 27 European Union (EU) member countries have agreed to begin the first set of talks with Ukraine and Moldova about joining the political and economic bloc.
Germany's foreign minister Johann Wadephul has suggested that Berlin's strong backing of Ukraine and its close ties with Israel may have contributed to its failure to secure a seat on the United Nations Security Council.
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