Langebaan, South Africa – February 4, 2025 – Errol Musk, father of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, says he facilitated a phone call between his son and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa after a political dispute over land reform and U.S. aid funding.
The call followed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement to cut over $400 million in U.S. assistance to South Africa, citing claims of anti-white discrimination and land seizures. His remarks caused a drop in the South African rand, stock market declines, and a rise in the cost of insuring the country’s debt.
According to Errol Musk, Ramaphosa’s senior adviser Bejani Chauke reached out to him on Monday, asking him to help arrange the call. “I was asked if I could arrange a quick talk between Ramaphosa and Elon last night … so I did, and they spoke a few minutes later,” Musk Sr. said from his home in Langebaan, a coastal town near Cape Town.
Neither Elon Musk nor Ramaphosa’s office provided details on the conversation. The South African presidency confirmed the call but declined to comment on how it was arranged or what was discussed. Chauke did not respond to requests for verification of Errol Musk’s claims.
The controversy started when Trump posted on social media on Sunday, alleging—without evidence—that South Africa was confiscating land and discriminating against certain racial groups. His claims were linked to a recent land reform law, which aims to redistribute farmland and address racial inequalities.
The law allows the government to expropriate land “in the public interest,” in some cases without compensation. Despite a government target of transferring 30% of farmland to Black ownership, only 8% had been reallocated as of 2018. White landowners still hold around 75% of freehold farmland, while Black landowners control just 4%, despite making up 80% of the population.
Ramaphosa denied that land was being confiscated and said the government’s policy was aimed at ensuring fair land access. He said he was open to discussions to clarify the law’s purpose and impact.
Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa, criticized the policy on his social media platform X, calling the country’s land ownership laws “openly racist.” His father, Errol Musk, backed Trump’s stance and questioned why U.S. taxpayers were funding South Africa’s HIV/AIDS programs. “Why should American taxpayers be paying nearly $500 million a year for treatment for South African HIV sufferers? Why?” he said.
Errol Musk also speculated on what his son may have said during the conversation with Ramaphosa. “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,’” he said. He compared the situation to Zimbabwe’s land seizures under Robert Mugabe, which led to economic decline.
There is no confirmation that Zimbabwe was mentioned during Elon Musk’s conversation with Ramaphosa. South Africa’s post-apartheid land reform policies have never involved the forced seizure of white-owned land.
