South African politician and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has fiercely responded to billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk after the Tesla and SpaceX CEO called for international sanctions against him.
The heated exchange erupted after an old video from 2018 resurfaced, showing Malema making controversial remarks about targeting white politicians—specifically, then-Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay, Athol Trollip. In the clip, Malema, known for his radical stance on racial and economic justice, declared:
“We are removing Trollip because the mayor of DA in PE is a white man… We are starting with this whiteness. We are cutting the throat of whiteness.”
The statement, which reignited debates on Malema’s rhetoric and its implications, prompted Musk to take to social media, labeling Malema’s comments as a “serious crime” and demanding immediate action.
“Immediate sanctions for Malema and a declaration of him as an international criminal!” Musk tweeted, sparking a political firestorm.
Malema Fires Back: ‘You’re a Racist, a Beneficiary of Apartheid Whiteness’
Malema wasted no time in hitting back, launching a scathing attack on Musk and dismissing his remarks as ignorant and racially charged.
“I really think you have entirely lost your left brain: a typical spoiled brat and direct beneficiary of Apartheid whiteness. I know black people look the same to you—typical racist. Look closer, and you will realize those are two different people. America is exposing us to its stupidity,” Malema fired back.
He doubled down on his stance against racial inequality, stating:
“I don’t care about your sanctions. I will never stop fighting for black people to be equal to white people, and if that makes me an international criminal, I am proud to be!”
The explosive exchange has set social media ablaze, with reactions split across ideological lines. Some argue that Malema’s rhetoric is dangerous and divisive, while others view Musk’s intervention as an unwarranted foreign intrusion into South Africa’s complex racial and political landscape.
While Malema has built his political career on radical land reform policies and racial justice advocacy, Musk—who was born in South Africa but left in his youth—has largely been seen as disconnected from the country’s political realities.
Critics of Malema claim his rhetoric fuels racial tensions, while his supporters argue that he is merely addressing deep-seated inequalities that persist decades after the fall of Apartheid.
Musk, on the other hand, has been accused of selectively weighing in on African affairs while ignoring global injustices elsewhere. His call for sanctions echoes the West’s historical tendency to interfere in African politics, a sentiment that resonates deeply within the continent’s post-colonial discourse.
This dramatic confrontation underscores the global dimensions of racial politics, with figures like Malema and Musk wielding influence far beyond their immediate spheres.
As the debate over race, privilege, and historical injustices rages on, one thing is clear: neither Malema nor Musk is backing down anytime soon. The question now is whether this verbal war will escalate into tangible action—or remain yet another social media battlefield of ideological warfare.
PIONEER NEWS 