Elon Musk Faces Backlash Over South Africa Comments

Elon Musk has come under fire after sharing a friend’s message that painted a bleak picture of Johannesburg. This message claimed the city was chaotic, highlighting that traffic lights often malfunction and that the price of bread had skyrocketed to around $50. The message didn’t hold up well, as users quickly pointed out, posting videos that showcased working traffic signals. Some even expressed their frustrations about the generalizations made regarding South Africans, especially accusations of corruption and violent crime.

Musk had shared a screenshot of the message along with a personal note, saying, “I just received this from a friend visiting South Africa.”

In response, various users took to social media to challenge the claims. One person urged Musk to explore the country for himself instead of relying on hearsay, mentioning their safe experiences while walking around Cape Town at night. Another noted that traffic lights were functioning well across Johannesburg, stating that bread costs significantly less than a dollar.

Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, also weighed in on the conversation, arguing that the typical price for standard bread in South Africa ranges from R16 to R19 (approximately $0.83 to $0.98). Furthermore, Grok found no substantial evidence supporting the allegations of large-scale corruption at Baragwanath Hospital.

Moreover, this isn’t the first time Musk’s comments related to South Africa have sparked controversy. Previously, Grok’s assumptions regarding the country’s racial issues had drawn criticism, especially around the topic of purported “white genocide.” Musk himself had echoed similar claims about the anti-white sentiment in the nation.