Why South Africa's EFF Is Fuming Over Ramaphosa's Call To Elon Musk

Holifil

30 Mar, 2025

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is fuming over Cyril Ramaphosa's phone call to Elon Musk.
South Africa's president reached out to the Tesla CEO to clarify the country's Expropriation Act.
Social media users are firing back at the EFF, calling them the real embarrassment.

The EFF has blasted Cyril Ramaphosa for calling Elon Musk. Sharon Seretlo. Source: Getty Images

Listen, let me break this down for you. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are seriously ticked off at President Cyril Ramaphosa. They're accusing him of making South Africa look bad on the world stage. And why? Because Ramaphosa picked up the phone and called Elon Musk, the guy behind Tesla and SpaceX. Now, that might sound like a cool move, but the EFF isn't seeing it that way.

Here's the backstory. Ramaphosa reached out to Musk to explain the Expropriation Act, which is a law about land ownership in South Africa. This happened after Musk criticized the country, claiming its ownership laws were openly racist. Musk made those comments after Donald Trump cut funding to South Africa, alleging that the government was "confiscating land." So, Ramaphosa thought it was a good idea to clear the air and give Musk the real scoop.

Why the EFF Thinks Ramaphosa Crossed a Line

The EFF isn't holding back. They fired off a strongly worded statement on X, accusing Ramaphosa of being reckless and breaking diplomatic rules. They believe his actions show just how much South Africa is bending over backward for U.S. foreign aid. Let me quote what they had to say:

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“This breaking of diplomatic protocol should never be taken lightly by the citizens, as it is a clear indication of how the sovereignty of our country is compromised at the behest of pandering for U.S. foreign aid.”

“It’s also a reflection of how Ramaphosa is willing to embarrass the country to the world as a result of a dependency syndrome.”

The EFF claimed that Cyril Ramaphosa had embarrassed South Africa on the world stage. Image: Michael Buhilzer. Source: Getty Images

Musk's Motives Under Scrutiny

But wait, there's more. The EFF isn't just mad at Ramaphosa. They're also questioning Musk's intentions. They believe his comments about South Africa's laws are driven by self-interest. Specifically, Musk wants to bring Starlink, his satellite internet service, to South Africa. But there's a catch. South Africa's Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) policy requires foreign-owned satellite companies to have at least 30% black ownership. The EFF argues Musk is painting the country's laws as racist to get around these requirements.

Think about it. Musk is a billionaire with global ambitions. If he can enter the South African market without complying with local ownership rules, it would make things easier for him. The EFF sees this as a calculated move to bypass regulations.

Social Media Fires Back at the EFF

Now, here's where things get interesting. Social media users are not having it. They're calling out the EFF, saying the party is the real embarrassment. Tyron Buchholtz summed it up perfectly: "No one cares what the soon-to-be 1% loser party says or thinks." Ouch.

Others piled on. Ben Denton said, "Malema is an embarrassment to himself. He just doesn't know how to feel embarrassed." Conrad Pretorius added, "Somebody who got an F for woodwork in school must rather stay quiet in this playing field." And James Moulder put it bluntly: "Nobody can embarrass South Africa more than the destructive EFF. Nobody."

The criticism didn't stop there. Heidi Blaschke quipped, "That is the pot calling the kettle black." Rick Taylor asked, "Sorry, who is the EFF? Is that still a thing?" While Guy Perrins chimed in, "EFF who? Oh, they are looking for attention." Chris van der Merwe stated, "There is only one big embarrassment for SA and that's the EFF." Anna Marie Radloff found humor in the situation, saying, "EFF scolding the President? Hilarious." Clinton Shekyls added, "EFF is the biggest embarrassment to South Africa."

Was Ramaphosa Desperate for Musk's Approval?

It's not just the EFF that's upset. Ramaphosa's decision to call Musk has sparked debate across South Africa. According to Briefly News, many citizens accused the president of being desperate to get into the USA's good books. Some even suggested that Ramaphosa's advisors approached Elon Musk's father to arrange the call. That's right, they went through Dad to make it happen. It seems like everyone has an opinion on this one.

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At the end of the day, this whole situation raises questions about diplomacy, self-interest, and who really represents South Africa on the global stage. Whether you side with Ramaphosa, Musk, or the EFF, one thing is clear: this story has sparked a heated conversation that won't be forgotten anytime soon.