South Africans rally behind Malema after clash with Elon Musk

South Africans continue to rally behind Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, following his public spat with billionaire, Elon Musk, on social media.

Malema and Musk clashed over the weekend in a series of tweets as tensions between the United States and South Africa continue to simmer.

Musk, who also owns X, took to his platform questioning President Cyril Ramaphosa on why he allowed Malema to “call for the genocide of white people” in the country in his 2018 speech.

Musk called for Malema to be declared an international criminal and be sanctioned.

The EFF leaders, however, didn’t roll over and play dead.

He hit back at Musk, telling him and his allies to “go to hell”.

EFF’s national spokesperson, Sinawo Tambo, says the party says it is not fazed by Musk’s utterances.

Wow South African X is a mess with the whole Elon musk/ Julius Malema/ Trump/ Afriforum & Sanctions thing. It’s a mess . Crazy traffick .it’s a whole mess . If you watching from a far you wouldn’t tell what’s true or not. You’ll simply go by which color you love and go with them pic.twitter.com/aNfZgThKCp

— ….. (@nnnnnnnwe) February 10, 2025

@elonmusk
The Beor of Holland that came to South Africa committed atrocious things and I understand why Malema is https://t.co/KP2EPgf0Ln may not Elon but you haven’t been forcefully out of your will feasting with your alleged enemies.I have for been an Igbo man in Nigeria.

— Ugochukwu Chinenyeze1 (@UChinenyeze1) February 10, 2025

You can go to hell with your Elon Musk and if white is doing it it’s okay, if you touch malema you touch africans

— Ramokoka (@Ramokoka94) February 10, 2025

True .i don’t agree with Julius malema political but after he was unjustifiably attacked by racist Elon Musk,I’m fully behind him.

— MOSES RAMAFALO.Kolobe ya bjatladi (@RamafaloMoses) February 10, 2025

Malema ! We are with you ! If Elon comes to SA deal with him ! Such a hypocrite!

— Righteousnesses over evil (@Righteo61849611) February 10, 2025

The fallout between Malema and Musk is part of the diplomatic brawl, sparked by Trump’s decision to sanction South Africa for what he says is the confiscation of land and the bad treatment meted to certain classes of people in the country.

It’s led South Africa to caution Washington, warning that the country won’t be bullied. It has also left many South Africans feeling like perhaps Pretoria should draw the line and, if needs be, severe diplomatic ties with America.

Economist, Dawie Roodt, however, believes that’s not the solution.

He has urged government leaders to handle the current conflict with the US with care, saying it could be detrimental for the country.

The veteran economist says the farming sector could experience a huge blow should South Africa be kicked out of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which is a US trade law that gives duty-free access to Washington’s market for certain products from sub-Saharan African countries.

International Relations expert, Professor Sam Koma, says South African companies that do business with US based companies will also be negatively affected.

Speaking to YNews, Koma hailed President Ramaphosa’s plan to send envoys to parts of the globe to dispel the mistruths that have been spread about the country as a step in the right direction.

Political analyst, Professor Siphamandla Zondi, also weighed in – saying if the spat continues to escalate, both countries stand to lose a lot.

He believes that, at this point, dialogue is the only way to deal with the matter.

 

The SA Chamber of Commerce in the USA has revealed that they have received over 17 000 enquiries about getting refugee status after US president Donald Trump signed an executive order at the weekend granting Afrikaners refugee status.

They (the US & Israel) want their 7th war in the Middle East which would involve Iran. They are bullying the small kid (SA) in BRICS to see if they start that war. They can’t attack Iran directly because they would lose against China & Russia. Very sneaky

— Shocked@thebrainwashing (@Shocked2022) February 10, 2025

The reason the US has suddenly come down on SA, is because Netanyahu ordered it. We must get zionism out of the United States.

— vic proulx (@curtisrobin) February 10, 2025

You got that right. SA is finally addressing the economic inequality created by apartheid, something the US has never done.

— Guhrilla🦍 (@Gurilla17) February 10, 2025

SA is still standing, and will continue standing beyond Trumptaking racists from SA! What the US is doing is actually the last kicks of a dying horse. No country will dominate and buly forever! https://t.co/KTPiCYMkmD

— Masandawana🦋 (@_Siphe_Sihle_) February 10, 2025

I love the fact the majority of SA’s do not care what the US or the west thinks about us especially after genocide in Gaza. Another thing is SA democracy just went through one of its toughest tests and passed with flying colours.We know this as SA’s &no one can tell us different https://t.co/dLUQDvGiVd

— Poorbutnotgullible (@ndlovus31) February 10, 2025

America’s stance meanwhile seems to have emboldened the DA into challenging the recently enacted Expropriation Act that government critics believe Trump was referring to when he claimed that land is being taken from Afrikaaners, leading him to grant them refugee status.

The DA’s Helen Zille says the party believes the Act undermines constitutional principles and opens the door to power abuse by taking people’s property.