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.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for February 5th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Saudi Arabia reaffirmed on Wednesday that it will not establish diplomatic ties with Israel unless a Palestinian state is created. The statement follows remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed that Riyadh was not making such a demand.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is open to meeting Iran’s leader while announcing new sanctions to block Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, the first foreign leader to visit since Trump’s re-election. Talks focused on a potential Israel-Saudi normalization deal, the Gaza war, and the ongoing hostage negotiations.
The FireAid benefit concerts have raised over $100 million for wildfire relief in Los Angeles, with more than 50 million viewers tuning in across 28 platforms. The event, featuring Lady Gaga, Green Day, and Stevie Nicks, aims to support both immediate relief efforts and long-term recovery.
At least 11 people, including the gunman, were killed in Sweden's worst mass shooting at an adult education center in Örebro, west of Stockholm, authorities confirmed.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order withdrawing the US from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and prohibiting any future funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for the Near East (UNRWA), the agency which provides relief for Palestinian refugees.
Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan has called for a fresh start in relations with Azerbaijan, highlighting progress in peace talks and mutual recognition of territorial integrity.
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia’s North Maluku early Tuesday, with no tsunami warning issued, Xinhua reports.
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary will build a direct high-voltage submarine cable connecting the South Caucasus region with the European Union, with a purpose to strengthen national and regional energy security.
Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport has released the preliminary report on the investigation on Azerbaijan Airlines's flight J2-8243's tragic crash. Read excerpts from the report and watch AnewZ's complete coverage.
An American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed into the Potomac River after a midair collision near Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night, officials said.
The U.S. has officially entered a new trade war. President Donald Trump has slapped 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10% on China, citing immigration and drug trafficking concerns. The move has immediate consequences for businesses and consumers—so what happens next?
At least 11 people, including the gunman, were killed in Sweden's worst mass shooting at an adult education center in Örebro, west of Stockholm, authorities confirmed.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order withdrawing the US from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and prohibiting any future funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for the Near East (UNRWA), the agency which provides relief for Palestinian refugees.
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia’s North Maluku early Tuesday, with no tsunami warning issued, Xinhua reports.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for February 5th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The wave of anti-corruption protests in Serbia continues to grow. On February 4, teachers and farmers joined students in an anti-government demonstration in the central city of Kragujevac. Thousands of people marched through the streets, holding banners and blowing whistles in protest.
At least 11 people, including the gunman, were killed in Sweden's worst mass shooting at an adult education center in Örebro, west of Stockholm, authorities confirmed.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order withdrawing the US from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and prohibiting any future funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for the Near East (UNRWA), the agency which provides relief for Palestinian refugees.
Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan has called for a fresh start in relations with Azerbaijan, highlighting progress in peace talks and mutual recognition of territorial integrity.
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia’s North Maluku early Tuesday, with no tsunami warning issued, Xinhua reports.
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary will build a direct high-voltage submarine cable connecting the South Caucasus region with the European Union, with a purpose to strengthen national and regional energy security.
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