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Trevor Noah Calls Out Elon Musk’s Narrative About South Africa and BBEE

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3 months ago

May 28, 2025

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Trevor Noah, the South African-born comedian known for his sharp wit and thoughtful commentary, has weighed in on Elon Musk’s controversial claims about South Africa — and he’s not holding back.

In a recent episode of his podcast What Now?, Noah took a critical look at Musk’s repeated assertions that racial policies in South Africa, particularly the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBEE) framework, are to blame for Starlink’s inability to operate in the country.

“Starlink is not allowed to operate in South Africa because I’m not black,” Musk claimed.

While the Tesla and SpaceX CEO has framed this as an example of “anti-white” discrimination, Noah believes the truth is more nuanced. He reminded listeners that BBEE exists as a form of redress — an attempt to correct deep economic inequalities caused by apartheid.

Noah didn’t stop at policy critique. He questioned Musk’s broader tactics, describing him as someone who strategically undermines systems that stand in the way of his ambitions.

“He is supremely talented at finding the right lever to pull, and he will pull it,” Noah said. “To start businesses that break things and don’t follow the rules, what do you need? You need the people who make the rules to lose power.”

The Born a Crime author also suggested that Musk may intentionally stoke discontent to serve his goals. According to Noah, Musk seeks out disaffected voices and amplifies their frustration — an approach that helps him build influence while challenging existing regulations.

“You find people with the most hate fermenting, you encourage that, you grow and nestle it,” he said.

Noah stopped short of calling Musk a con artist but admitted the thought has crossed his mind, especially given the tech billionaire’s history of controversy, disruption, and bending rules to suit his businesses.

This isn’t the first time Musk has faced criticism for his statements about South Africa, but Noah’s take offers a uniquely personal and pointed perspective — one rooted in an understanding of the country’s complex history.