American billionaire and Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, has called for immediate international sanctions against South African politician and lawmaker Julius Malema, labeling him an “international criminal” over a controversial speech he made in 2018.
The demand, which Musk shared on his official X handle, comes amid escalating tensions between the United States and South Africa, particularly following President Donald Trump’s recent executive order freezing financial aid to the country.
Musk’s reaction stems from a resurfaced 2018 video in which Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), made racially charged remarks targeting white South Africans. Speaking at the Standard Bank Arena in Johannesburg during his party’s election registration campaign, Malema declared that the EFF had decided to remove then-Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Athol Trollip—solely because of his race.
> “We have taken a decision that we are going to remove the mayor of PE [Port Elizabeth],” Malema said.
“Why? Why not [Johannesburg Mayor Herman] Mashaba? Why not Solly [Msimanga – then-Mayor of Tshwane]? Because the mayor of DA in PE is a white man. So, these people, when you want to hit them hard – go after a white man. They feel a terrible pain because you have touched a white man.”
Malema added that his party was “starting with this whiteness” and that “we are cutting the throat of whiteness.” He vowed that Trollip would be removed from office by April 6 of that year.
Nearly seven years later, Musk condemned Malema’s remarks, declaring that his words amounted to a serious crime that warranted punishment.
> “Immediate sanctions for Malema and declaration of him as an international criminal!” Musk tweeted.
Musk’s statement aligns with the recent diplomatic standoff between Washington and Pretoria. President Donald Trump, who reappointed Musk as a special government employee in November 2024 to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, recently ordered financial aid to South Africa to be frozen.
Trump had earlier warned that future funding to South Africa would be completely cut off, citing concerns over land expropriation policies and alleged discriminatory treatment of certain groups, particularly foreign nationals.
The move followed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to sign an expropriation bill into law, granting the government authority to seize land without compensation in specific cases.
In response, Ramaphosa dismissed Trump’s claims, stating that South Africa receives no direct financial aid from the U.S., except for funds allocated under the PEPFAR program, which supports the country’s HIV/AIDS response.
Musk’s public condemnation of Malema and his call for sanctions could further strain U.S.-South Africa relations, especially as Washington reassesses its diplomatic stance toward the country.
With Trump’s administration already taking a hardline position on Pretoria’s policies, it remains to be seen whether Musk’s influence—both as a business magnate and a government figure—will push Western nations to impose actual sanctions on Malema and his party.
As tensions mount, the world watches to see how both South Africa and the U.S. navigate this latest diplomatic flashpoint.
PIONEER NEWS 