‘I consider myself to be simply an American’ – Elon Musk distances mimself from SA

Elon Musk

Cape Town – Following the controversial interview by Ernst Roets, a former AfriForum representative, on the Tucker Carlson Show, Elon Musk, the wealthiest man in the world, has distanced himself from his native South Africa, marking the latest chapter in his ongoing disassociation from his country of birth.

Musk, born in Pretoria in 1971, has long been vocal about his displeasure with the current direction of South African governance.

In a recent tweet, he condemned the actions of the South African government, declaring them “deeply wrong” and stating that they are far removed from what Nelson Mandela envisioned for the nation.

“Should note that I grew up as English South African, not Afrikaans, and consider myself to be simply an American. No hyphen,” Musk wrote.

He added, “That said, what’s happening in South Africa is deeply wrong. Not what Mandela intended at all.”

This latest statement from Musk comes on the heels of his previous disavowal of his South African roots. In 2020, when a Twitter user asked about his nationality, Musk replied, “American, but born in South Africa. Left by myself when I was 17.”

His ongoing reluctance to identify with South Africa has sparked conversation, particularly in the context of the country’s political and social climate.

Roets, who appeared on the Tucker Carlson Show, expressed his gratitude towards Musk, thanking him for his outspoken support of white South Africans and for helping to raise awareness about what he sees as a “crisis” in South Africa.

“Thank you for speaking out, Elon! As I said during the interview, we are very grateful for the role that you have been playing to raise awareness about the crisis in South Africa. We need change!” Roets wrote on social media.

The tension surrounding Musk’s comments takes place against a backdrop of growing political and social instability in South Africa.

The country has recently seen escalating debates about race, land reform, and economic inequality, with some figures like Musk and Roets offering their perspectives on what they believe is a deteriorating situation.

Musk’s comments appear to reflect his belief that the current government’s actions are straying too far from the ideals of reconciliation and unity that Nelson Mandela fought for.

Musk’s views are shared by some, including controversial political figures such as US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticised the South African government’s policies, particularly around issues of land expropriation and its handling of white farmers’ rights.

Both Musk and Trump have used their platforms to highlight their concerns over what they describe as the erosion of individual rights and freedoms in South Africa, although their views have also drawn sharp criticism from those who argue that such perspectives oversimplify the country’s complex issues.

Investigation 

In South Africa, Kallie Kriel, the CEO of AfriForum, a civil rights organisation that advocates for the rights of South Africa’s white minority, has also been vocal in criticising the government, particularly its approach to land reform.

Kriel, like Roets, has expressed concern over the rising levels of violence against white farmers and the government’s stance on land redistribution without compensation.

Kriel and his organisation are under investigation for potentially facing high treason charges due to their lobbying efforts against South Africa’s race laws.

Hawks confirmed on Monday that four dockets of high treason have been opened following allegations of misinformation.

“Indeed we are apolitical but when it comes to the complainant, we also don’t discriminate whether a complainant belongs to a political party or not. So there are four dockets that have been opened by different people, maybe from different parties that concern some individuals that may have crossed the border to go and communicate some of the things that are perceived to be in the direction of high treason.

“I don’t want to mention names of organisations… but there are some organisations that are suspected to be involved,” Hawks Head General Godfrey Lebeya  said.

According to SABC News, “political parties, including the uMkhonto weSizwe Party and other individuals, are said to have registered complaints following allegations that US President Donald Trump was misled about the land issue. This led to Trump attacking South Africa, accusing it of human rights abuses against Afrikaners”.

AfriForum and Solidarity’s Flip Buys were in the US recently and met with members of Trump’s administration to advocate for the interests of Afrikaners in South Africa.

The group presented a memorandum to showcase alleged human rights violations against Afrikaners, as well as the African National Congress’s (ANC) poor governance.

They urged the US to recognise Afrikaners as a cultural community, increase support for cultural infrastructure, and pressure ANC leaders to change their policies instead of imposing sanctions.

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