Shame on AfriForum—and Elon Musk—for Feeding Trump Racist Lies Using Congo Tragedy
In a reckless and humiliating moment for global diplomacy, U.S. President Donald Trump on May 21, 2025, presented South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with what he claimed was “evidence” of a so-called white genocide in South Africa. The problem? The photo he used wasn’t even from South Africa—it was from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The image, showing body bags handled by Red Cross workers, was taken after a mass prison break in Goma, where countless women were raped and burned alive. It was a horrifying moment in Congolese history—and it had absolutely nothing to do with white farmers in South Africa.
So how did this grotesque distortion land on the desk of a sitting U.S. president?
Look no further than AfriForum—the same group that’s spent years manufacturing and exporting the “white genocide” myth to gain sympathy from the far-right and racists abroad. And disturbingly, joining them in this misinformation campaign was none other than Elon Musk.
Musk, whose South African roots should make him more aware of the country’s complex realities, instead chose to lend his voice and platform to AfriForum’s toxic narrative. Instead of using his global influence to amplify real issues—like inequality, economic development, or the fight against gender-based violence—he stood with an organization peddling lies, manipulating tragedy, and stoking racial division.
This is more than just bad optics. It’s a calculated, racist PR stunt designed to draw international sympathy for white South Africans at the expense of truth, dignity, and the pain of Black Africans.
President Ramaphosa, faced with this barrage of deceit, responded with dignity and truth. He firmly rejected the false claims and reminded the world that while crime in South Africa is a serious issue, it affects all communities. The vast majority of victims, in fact, are Black South Africans—something AfriForum conveniently ignores.
AfriForum and Elon Musk owe the people of South Africa—and the people of the Congo—an apology. Not just for spreading lies, but for desecrating the memory of real victims in service of a fake narrative.
This isn’t activism. It’s propaganda. And it’s dangerous.
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