Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed criticism from EFF leader Julius Malema over his recent call with Elon Musk, defending the engagement as part of broader diplomatic efforts.
While speaking in the National Assembly at the Nieuwmeester Dome in Cape Town during a Q&A session, Malema pressed Ramaphosa for details about his conversation with Musk.
The EFF leader questioned why Ramaphosa bypassed formal diplomatic channels to speak with Musk, whom he accused of holding racist views.
He also challenged Ramaphosa’s decision to engage with Musk, accusing the billionaire of promoting “racist and white supremacist” views about South Africa.
“The unrepented racist became emboldened and then made more bad remarks about South Africa even after meeting you physically [but] you still saw a need to go outside the diplomatic channels and made contact with an individual,” Malema said.
The EFF leader inquired whether the discussion took place through official diplomatic channels and requested clarity on International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola’s involvement in arranging the conversation.
“This thing of talking to thieves like Elon Musk makes white people undermine us,” he said.
“What do you say about established practices of resolving issues in a diplomatic way through diplomatic channels in South Africa? Do you have confidence in the minister of [international relations]?”
In response, Ramaphosa brushed off Malema’s remarks, cautioning the him against trying to sow discord between him and Lamola.
“My business with the minister doesn’t concern you. You are trying to drive a wedge between us, and I won’t accept it, not even a little bit.
“We work in a very interactive way, and as I have said, there is no way we don’t talk to certain people who are either non-state actors or state actors.
“The discipline that I have always followed, if you care to know, is to always keep my colleagues informed, and they always keep me informed.
“Be it ministers or deputy ministers, we always know when we do certain things that have to do with the Republic of South Africa,” Ramaphosa said.
The president also responded that Musk has influence within the US government and could help counter misinformation about South Africa.
“The discussions revolved around his would-be investments,” Ramaphosa said.
“We do interact with people who we believe are able to discuss issues with some people in very official categories. So, we do talk to non-state actors as well as state actors.”
He said that the discussions with various individuals were entirely transparent and held no hidden agenda.
Ramaphosa also addressed AfriForum and Solidarity’s lobbying in the US, accusing them of spreading misinformation and instigating actions against South Africa.
He criticised their efforts as “non-patriotic” and suggested law enforcement could assess whether their actions were treasonous.
Meanwhile, the US State Department confirmed it was implementing Trump’s executive order on resettling Afrikaners facing alleged discrimination in South Africa.
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