Presidency calls Musk ‘unhinged racist’ over ‘anti-white laws’ claim

Pretoria – The Presidency has condemned comments by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk alleging that South Africa has enacted more anti-white laws than apartheid-era anti-black legislation, describing the remarks as deeply offensive and racist.

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya responded on social media on Saturday, saying Musk’s comments ignored the lived realities of apartheid and its enduring legacy.

“Only an unhinged, unrepentant racist will not understand how deeply offensive such words are to people who still bear the scars of apartheid and everyday work to dismantle the mess left by colonialism and apartheid that benefited your ilk,” Magwenya said.

Magwenya was responding to a post by Musk in which the Tesla and SpaceX owner claimed: “South Africa now has more anti-White laws than Apartheid had anti-Black laws. This is deeply wrong: the goal should be no race-based laws!”

Only an unhinged, unrepentant racist will not understand how deeply offensive such words are to people who still bear the scars of apartheid and everyday work to dismantle the mess left by colonialism and apartheid that benefited your ilk. https://t.co/y7ZXfFptPW

— Vincent Magwenya 🇿🇦 (@SpokespersonRSA) December 13, 2025

Musk’s remarks have sparked widespread backlash online, with critics accusing him of distorting South Africa’s history and mischaracterising post-apartheid policies aimed at redressing racial inequality.

South Africa’s Constitution explicitly outlaws racism and discrimination, while allowing for remedial measures designed to address the injustices of apartheid, a system that enforced racial segregation and economic exclusion for decades.