Elon Musk will be a perpetual nightmare here in RSA. He is above the state president , above our laws, above the Constitution and above us. He has no time for any Constitutional democracy. All of our laws comply with the Constitution and Rlon Mustk must respect the decisions of the Constitutional Court. As of April 2026, Elon Musk has intensified calls for the United States to impose severe sanctions on South Africa, primarily targeting the country's Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policies and political leadership. The friction between Musk and the South African government centers on several key issues: Starlink Licensing Dispute: Musk alleges that South Africa is "openly racist" because Starlink has been denied an operating license for failing to meet the 30% local ownership requirement for historically disadvantaged groups. He claims he was even offered opportunities to "bribe" his way into a license, which he says he refused on principle. Political Clashes: Musk has called for international sanctions against Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, whom he labeled a "genocidal maniac" following controversial remarks made by Malema. Influence in Washington: Following the return of Donald Trump to the White House in 2025, Musk—who served as a senior advisor—has been accused by critics, including the EFF, of using his influence to manipulate U.S. foreign policy against South Africa. Wider Economic Measures: Beyond Musk's specific calls, the U.S. administration has already imposed 30% reciprocal tariffs on South African goods as part of its "America First" strategy. There are also active legislative efforts, such as the US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act, which could lead to targeted sanctions against ANC officials over the country's ties to Russia, China, and Iran. The South African government, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, has dismissed Musk's claims as "lies," maintaining that over 600 U.S. companies successfully operate in the country by following existing transformation laws.
