Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has fiercely criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa over his engagement with billionaire Elon Musk, accusing him of bypassing South Africa’s diplomatic channels and diminishing the role of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).

The exchange took place during a question session in the Nation Assembly, where Malema questioned Ramaphosa’s decision to meet Musk and later engage with him outside official diplomatic protocols.

Malema did not hold back, directly challenging Ramaphosa’s handling of diplomatic relations. He stated: “Not once have you mentioned DIRCO or the Minister of International Relations. And this is as a result of you having met Elon Musk during the UN General Assembly and knowing very well the views of Elon Musk about South Africa — racist, white supremacist views about South Africa — which led to you meeting him because you thought you were going to clarify those issues.”

Malema further argued that instead of resolving the issue through diplomatic mechanisms, Ramaphosa legitimised Musk’s alleged anti-South African stance.

“Unrepentant racists became emboldened and then made more bad remarks about South Africa even after meeting you physically.

''You still saw a need to go outside the diplomatic channels and made a contract with an individual, not using diplomatic relations or mechanisms within which we resolve diplomatic disputes in South Africa.”

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He questioned whether Ramaphosa’s actions had weakened DIRCO, stating: “Don’t you think you individually have emboldened white people to undermine us, and you have single-handedly destroyed the diplomatic relations of South Africa with other countries and you have destroyed and juniorised the Department of International Relations?”

Ramaphosa, in response, defended his actions, emphasising that he did speak to Musk and that engaging with non-state and state actors was a normal part of diplomatic and economic discussions.

He explained that he had met Musk during the United Nations General Assembly and that their discussions focused on potential investments in South Africa.

“We continue to engage with a variety of people through diplomatic channels as well as through various constituencies in countries that we have relations with. And as I’ve indicated, through this conversation that I had, we were able to have a discussion on what was a mischaracterisation of what was being said about our country.”

Ramaphosa also dismissed Malema’s claim that he had bypassed DIRCO, asserting that his administration works in a collaborative manner.

“The discipline that I have always followed, if you care to know, is to always keep my colleagues informed, and they always keep me informed. Be they ministers or deputy ministers, we always know when we do certain things that have to do with the Republic of South Africa.''

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za

IOL Politics