The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has launched a fiery rebuttal against tech mogul Elon Musk after he called for sanctions against the party’s leader, Julius Malema, and labeled him an “international criminal.”
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The clash comes amid heightened tensions between South Africa and the United States over land reform policies and accusations of an “anti-white agenda.”
The controversy erupted after Musk, who serves in the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday to demand immediate sanctions against Malema.
Musk’s comments were prompted by a viral clip of Malema stating, “We are cutting the throat of whiteness,” during a speech justifying the removal of Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Athol Trollip, who is white.
🚨🇿🇦SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICAL LEADER: WE WILL CUT THE THROAT OF WHITENESS
Julius Malema:
“These people, when you want to hit them hard, go after a white man. They feel terrible pain because you have touched a white man.
We’re cutting the throat of whiteness. We will kill white… https://t.co/nFBMwU4RTG pic.twitter.com/TsNzC6W8Hp
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 9, 2025
In his tweet, Musk wrote, “Immediate sanctions for Malema and declaration of him as an international criminal!” He also directed a question to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, asking, “Why do you allow this, @CyrilRamaphosa? This is a major political party in the South African parliament and their leader is calling for genocide of white people.”
The EFF, however, has dismissed Musk’s remarks as part of a broader campaign by Western imperialists and capitalist elites to undermine South Africa’s sovereignty. In a strongly worded statement, the party accused Musk of being a “global billionaire maniac” whose wealth has “overwhelmed him and made him think of himself as a supreme ruler of not only the Oval Office, but of all nations of the world.”
EFF National Spokesperson Sinawo Thambo condemned Musk’s comments, stating that the party remains unfazed by what it described as “antics” from the U.S. and its allies. Thambo emphasized that the EFF’s commitment to land expropriation without compensation is rooted in achieving equality and justice for South Africans.
“The EFF takes the opportunity to tell Elon Musk and all of his allies in the USA, in Israel, and the right-wing groups in South Africa which have mobilized Musk to collectively go to hell,” Thambo said. “The principle remains that equality in South Africa is rooted in the return of the land to African people, and this will be achieved through expropriation without compensation.”
The EFF also vowed that Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service would not operate in South Africa unless it complies with local legislation requiring 30% local ownership. The party further declared Musk an “enemy of South Africa” and called on progressive nations, including Russia, China, India, and African states, to isolate and reject his enterprises.
The spat comes against the backdrop of strained diplomatic relations between South Africa and the U.S. President Donald Trump recently froze aid to South Africa, citing concerns over land expropriation policies. President Ramaphosa has denied these claims, stating that South Africa receives no U.S. funding except for HIV/AIDS aid under PEPFAR.
The EFF’s statement also accused Musk of meddling in South Africa’s domestic affairs and attempting to undermine the country’s sovereignty. “Elon Musk has captured the Presidency of the USA and has weaponized his office as an instrument to pursue his business interests globally,” the statement read. “His nefarious influence must be opposed and undermined by all nations which respect their sovereignty and seek to maintain independence.”
The EFF concluded by reaffirming its commitment to confronting imperialism and its “surrogates” like Musk, vowing not to retreat from its principles.
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