IN a heated exchange on August 2, Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and founder of X (formerly known as Twitter), was branded an ‘illiterate’ by Julius Malema, the leader of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in South Africa. The war of words erupted over a contentious anti-apartheid song, escalating tensions between the two figures.
‘Why must I educate Elon Musk, he looks like an illiterate. The only thing that protects him is his white skin,’ Malema stated firmly during a press conference in Johannesburg.
The contentious song in question, titled Kill The Boer, the farmer, has long been a subject of controversy in South Africa. This struggle song, which played a vital role in the fight against white-rule, is considered inflammatory due to its violent lyrics. Malema, known for leading chants of the song at a weekend rally, has faced accusations of inciting ethnic violence.
‘They are openly pushing for genocide of white people in South Africa,’ Musk retorted on his social media platform, X. The tech mogul, who was born in Pretoria, also tagged South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, questioning his silence on the matter.
Malema’s history with the chant has landed him in legal trouble before. Last year, a court ruled that the song did not constitute hate speech, but an appeal is currently pending.
In response to the controversy, a group of white supremacists protested outside the EFF headquarters ahead of Malema’s press conference. Malema dismissed the issue, telling reporters, ‘Refer Elon Musk to YouTube; there is a full clip of the court appearance. This matter is closed, we have no time for nonsense.’
The situation has attracted broader attention, with South Africa’s leading opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), planning to file a complaint against Malema with the UN Human Rights Council. The EFF, however, denies that the chant constitutes a direct call for violence.
The verbal clash between Musk and Malema comes as South African political parties gear up for the national elections in 2024, adding an extra layer of significance to the ongoing dispute.
