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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A suspect crashed his truck into the hallway of a Detroit-area synagogue where children were attending preschool on Thursday and was shot dead following a confrontation with security personnel. Fortunately, no one else was seriously injured, according to authorities.
Iran should continue “blocking the Strait of Hormuz,” while the U.S. should “shut” its Middle East military bases, new Iranian Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said on Thursday in his first speech since being elected. He is still yet to appear in public, and a broadcaster read out his words.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has set recognition of Tehran’s inalienable rights, payment of war compensation, and international guarantees against any future invasion as conditions for ending the U.S.–Israel war with the Islamic Republic.
International security and climate change are top of the agenda as leaders and policymakers from around the world meet at the 13th Global Baku Forum in the Azerbaijani capital this week.
The 32 countries belonging to the Internatioanl Energy Agency agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil on Wednesday (11 March), in efforts aimed at bringing down the price of crude oil, which has soared since fighting between Iran, Israel and the U.S. started at the end of February.
The U.S. should shut down its military bases in the Middle East, Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday (12 March). His words were read out by a broadcaster on state Iranian television.
A towering lava fountain from Kilauea shot about 400 metres into the air late on Tuesday (11 March) on Hawaii Island, prompting temporary closures at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and part of a key highway as volcanic ash and debris fell over nearby areas.
More than 68,000 children in eastern Afghanistan have been displaced after clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces intensified along the border, according to a new report by Save the Children.
Georgia has cancelled international tenders for the construction of major road sections that form part of a regional highway linking the country with the borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
A suspect crashed his truck into the hallway of a Detroit-area synagogue where children were attending preschool on Thursday and was shot dead following a confrontation with security personnel. Fortunately, no one else was seriously injured, according to authorities.
Freight transport on the China–Europe Railway Express grew strongly in the first two months of 2026, highlighting the growing importance of rail links between Asia and Europe. The network moved about 352,000 shipping containers between January and February, a 25% increase from a year earlier.
At least 64 people have been killed in southern Ethiopia following recent landslides and floods, the regional government’s communications office said on Thursday (12 March), citing local police
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 12th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Norwegian police apprehended three brothers suspected of carrying out Sunday's (8 March) bombing at the U.S. embassy in Oslo, in an attack investigators have branded an act of terrorism.
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