Musk and South Africa: The Controversial Legacy of a Billionaire’s Past
Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, was born during the collapse of apartheid. He grew up in the wealthy, segregated suburbs of Pretoria, protected from chaos in the rest of the country. In 1989, Musk traveled to Canada and missed South Africa’s transition from apartheid. Recently, he criticized his birth country, including his tagging of its “open racist laws.” In related developments, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to stop providing aid to the country. Musk is one of Trump’s closest advisers and it’s unclear how much he has influenced the order. Musk’s actions sparked debate that his current worldview and political inclinations were shaped by his growing up in apartheid South Africa.
source: guardian
