Senegalese-American singer, Akon, has stirred controversy by asserting that billionaire Elon Musk is championing the cause of white South Africans because, according to him, they live in worse conditions than their Black counterparts.
The claim was made during an episode of the American podcast Bagfuel Brigade.
Elon Musk, who was born and raised in South Africa, has previously criticized the country’s policies, accusing its government of racial bias against white citizens.
He has described South Africa’s land ownership regulations as “racist” and has gone so far as to claim that the nation is experiencing a “genocide” against white farmers.
Musk’s statements followed the enactment of the Expropriation Act by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration in January. The law permits the government to reclaim land under specific circumstances—such as when it is unused or when redistribution is deemed to be in the public interest—sometimes without financial compensation.
During the podcast, Akon elaborated on why he believes Musk is vocal about South Africa’s racial dynamics. He stated, “In South Africa, white people don’t have it as good as white people have in America. South Africa is probably the one place in Africa that was able to switch the table where the white folks live in the hood and the black people are living good. This is why Elon Musk is fighting for those white folks in South Africa.
“He feels like they are being mistreated and there is no equality. White folks are fighting for equality in South Africa because Blacks are the majority. Blacks in South Africa are united, if all the other [African] countries do that, we will be the superpower of the universe.”
However, Akon’s assertions do not align with the most recent socioeconomic data from South Africa. According to 2022 figures from the World Bank, white South Africans earn nearly three times the average wage of Black South Africans. Moreover, despite the end of apartheid over three decades ago, white farmers continue to own approximately 75% of the nation’s agricultural land, even though they represent only about 7% of the population.
