“Hey #Southafrica, Musk didn't have the decency to shake your president's hand. Musk helped get Malema sentenced. Don't believe for a second he won't target Ramaphosa,” reads the X post published on April 16, 2026.
Julius Malema is the party leader of South Africa’s opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). He featured in a controversial video screened at the White House last year and was recently sentenced to five years in prison for firing a rifle in the air during a 2018 rally (archived here and here). He is appealing the sentence.
“Viral Video of Elon Musk Appearing To Snub A Handshake From South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa Has The Internet Talking,” reads additional text overlaid on the clip.
The 11-second clip shows Ramaphosa extending his hand towards Musk, who appears to laugh at him, arms crossed.
Similar claims have circulated on Facebook and Instagram since August 2025.
Musk, who was born in South Africa and left at the height of apartheid to avoid the unpopular military draft, has on several occasions criticised the South African government for its stance on licensing Starlink in the country, calling its policies “racist” (archived here and here).
“South Africa won’t allow Starlink to be licensed, even though I was BORN THERE, simply because I am not Black!” he wrote in a reply to an X post on April 12, 2026 (archived here). Musk’s account on X -- the social network he owns -- has more than 239 million followers.
Musk's comments...
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