Not for the first time, Elon Musk has been accused of spreading disinformation about South Africa, the country where he was born. This time, it related to imagery of what he claims was mass farm murders of white South Africans
Over the weekend, the world’s richest man bemoaned South Africa’s “racist laws” – transformative legislation – he believes has hindered the operation of his internet satellite service, Starlink, in the country.
ELON MUSK ACCUSED OF SPREADING LIES ABOUT FARMER CROSS MEMORIAL
On his X account, Elon Musk responded to a now viral clip of white crosses strewn across a road, that has been perpetuated to spread claims of mass murders of white farmers in South Africa.
The X user – @realMaalouf -claimed that “each cross represents a white farmer who was murdered in South Africa”.
He added: “This looks like a genocide”
Musk responded to the tweet, adding: “Each cross is a murdered family”.
The world’s richest man – who has accused South Africa of promoting a “white genocide” – was called out by many X users for spreading disinformation about the video.
In a 60 Minute feature that was aired in February, presenter Anderson Cooper spoke to the man who had erected the crosses alongside the road, white farmer Darrel Brown.
The Newcastle man placed the white crosses alongside a long stretch of road, which he claimed honoured the lives of all commercial farmers around South Africa who had lost their lives.
Brown, whose own father was attacked on their property and whose close pals were murdered, erected the tribute in 2020 and in 2024. It was dismantled after a few days.
He disputed claims of white genocide, particularly amongst white farmers.
He said: “I live carefully. We are aware of what is happening around us. We don’t take silly chances”.
Nevertheless, he added, “I’m very positive about South Africa. This is my home”.
TRUMP GOT IT WRONG TOO
It’s not just Elon Musk who has spread false information about the white cross memorial.
During the meeting at the White House last year, President Donald Trump’s aides rolled out a television set that played a video of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema singing the struggle song “Kill The Boer.”
In the clip, was the same image of the white crosses, which Trump implied was the “burial sites of white farmers.”
Quickly after Trump’s claims, a fact-checker revealed that the tribute followed a memorial service for a couple who had been murdered at their Newcastle farm in 2020.
The white crosses did not represent a burial site, but signified those who had been killed over the years.
The imagery is not to be confused with the Witkruis Monument in Limpopo.
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