President Cyril Ramaphosa told parliament his meetings with South African-born American billionaire Elon Musk were above board and that these meetings were held to clarify the country’s policy position on expropriation and perhaps get the ear of US President Donald Trump.
Ramaphosa was replying to questions from MPs on Tuesday afternoon. The plenary comes as tensions continue between Washington and Pretoria over claims by the former that the SA government was confiscating land, due to the passage of the Expropriation Act.
EFF leader Julius Malema asked President Ramaphosa whether his call to Musk was used as a diplomatic channel, and if not, what the reasons for the call were. He also asked what role minister of international relations and cooperation Ronald Lamola played in these meetings.
Ramaphosa confirmed that he had met with Musk on the sidelines of the United National General Assembly. Since the beginning of the Trump administration, where Musk serves as the head of the department of government efficiency, tensions between the US and SA have intensified.
“Yes, I have spoken to Mr Elon Musk ... In occasions when I have met with Musk, if you want to know, we were together with the minister of trade and industry and the minister of international relations and cooperation. We met with Musk when I went to the UN General Assembly last year.
“He came to my hotel room and we had a discussion ... around his would-be investments. So did I speak to him recently? Yes, because we engage with a variety of people through diplomatic channels as well as we engage with them through various constituencies in countries that we have relations with,” Ramaphosa replied.
Ramaphosa said the meeting was held to clarify misconceptions about South Africa’s expropriation laws, which sought to redress historical land deprivation in the past rather than confiscate land from owners.
“Through this conversation that I had, we were able to have a discussion on what was a mischaracterisation of our country. And he being a person who is quite ... influential, whether one likes it or not, as we interact with various people ... we do interact with people who we believe are able to discuss issues with some people in various official categories.”
He said the South African government speaks to both state and non-state actors in efforts to promote South Africa’s interests and will continue to do so.
“There is just nothing sinister about the various discussions that we hold with a variety of people, even on an ongoing basis. When people make contact with us, yes, we talk to them. But we always make sure that our foreign policy positions are advanced and they are not undermined or diluted.”
Malema remarked that the department of international relations (Dirco) in its official capacity was absent in his response. He asked Ramaphosa what his rationale was for meeting with “unrepentant racist” to clarify South Africa’s policy position and potentially “juniorising” Dirco in the process.
Ramaphosa said the South Africa business community, which is able to travel the world, should coalesce around the idea of “what South Africa is all about” as proud and patriotic representatives of the country.
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