The Singer Akon Describes Elon Musk’s Favoritism of White South Africans

Senegalese-American singer Akon recently claimed that Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual and head of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, is advocating for white South Africans because their living conditions are reportedly poorer than those of Black South Africans.

This statement was made during a recent episode of the American podcast, Bagfuel Brigade.

Musk, who was born and raised in South Africa, has previously described the country’s laws as “racist ownership laws.” He accused the South African government of doing too little to prevent what he calls a “genocide” against white farmers. These comments came after the passage of a new land law, the Expropriation Act, which was enacted by the government of President Cyril Ramaphosa in January. The law allows the government to expropriate land without compensation in specific situations, such as when the land is not being used or there is a public interest in redistributing it.

Akon argued that Musk’s advocacy for white South Africans stems from the fact that they live in worse conditions compared to their Black counterparts. He said, “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.”

Akon went on to add, “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, the claim that Black South Africans enjoy better living conditions than white South Africans does not align with available data. According to 2022 World Bank figures, South Africa’s white workforce earns nearly three times the average wage of Black workers. Despite the end of apartheid over 30 years ago, white farmers continue to control around three-quarters of the nation’s land, despite making up only 7% of the population.