Senegalese-American artist Akon has claimed that the world’s richest man and current head of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk, is fighting for white people in South Africa because, according to him, their Black counterparts enjoy better living conditions.
Elon Musk, who was born and raised in South Africa, has described his home country as having “racist property laws” and accused the current government of failing to prevent what he called a “genocide” against white farmers.
The SpaceX CEO made these statements following the adoption of a new land expropriation law in January by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration. The law allows the government to seize land—sometimes without compensation—in certain cases, such as when land is unused or there is a public interest in redistribution.
But Akon claims that Musk is advocating for white South Africans because they live in poorer conditions than Black South Africans. “In South Africa, white people are not in the same situation as they are in the U.S. South Africa is probably the only African country where the roles have reversed: white people live in the neighborhoods and Black people live well. That’s why Elon Musk is fighting for white South Africans,” he said during an appearance on the Bagfuel Brigade podcast.
“He feels mistreated and unequal. White people are fighting for equality in South Africa because Black people are the majority. Black South Africans are united; if every other [African] country did the same, we would be the superpower of the universe,” he added.
However, Akon’s remarks contradict available data. According to 2022 World Bank figures, South Africa’s white working population earns nearly three times the average salary of Black workers.
Despite the end of apartheid over 30 years ago, white farmers still own roughly three-quarters of the country’s land, even though they make up only 7% of the population.