Culture Craze

Nandi Madida Calls Out Errol Musk After Controversial Apartheid Comments

Published

3 hours ago

November 17, 2025

Chiraag

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A wave of conversation

When public figures speak about the past, the ripples always land somewhere. Recently, Errol Musk’s comments about apartheid caused exactly that effect. In an interview, he claimed that oppression did not occur during apartheid and added that people were given work and food. The remarks struck a nerve in a country where the memory of that era remains real and relevant.

Nandi Madida, known not only for her artistry but also for her social awareness, chose not to ignore the moment. She publicly challenged Musk’s statement, calling attention to the lived experiences of millions who were restricted, displaced, and discriminated against under apartheid law.

When memory meets pushback

Madida highlighted that oppression during apartheid is not a questionable topic but a documented reality. Her response reflects how many South Africans feel when they hear revisionist narratives. In a country where the legacy of apartheid still shapes education, access to land, and economic opportunity, the importance of historical accuracy is never abstract.

Her message echoed a broader sentiment: that the meaning of apartheid is not shaped by opinion, but by documented law and lived experience.

Why this matters now

This exchange is not just about an artist and a public figure disagreeing. It touches on a long-standing tension in South Africa: how history is remembered and who gets to define it. Madida’s response placed emphasis on the need to uphold factual memory, especially in public conversations where misinformation can spread quickly.

“We fed them” pic.twitter.com/2ud6j3oKp2

— Nandi Madida (@Nandi_Madida) November 16, 2025

A grounded view of public conversation

The moment drew attention online, largely because of the contrast between Musk’s comments and the established historical record. Madida’s stance brought clarity to a topic where accuracy matters deeply. The interaction, while brief, reminded many that conversations about apartheid still demand sensitivity, truth, and responsibility.

Exactly. I refuse for future generations to be brainwashed into believing our ancestors were anything less than extraordinary. Africans come from brilliance, civilisation, innovation and genius, and colonialism has continuously appropriated, rewritten and exploited that at our… https://t.co/dnM1qdSU5q

— Nandi Madida (@Nandi_Madida) November 16, 2025

A fresh lens on historical responsibility

What this moment highlights is the continuing need to challenge narratives that contradict documented history. When a public figure makes a claim about a defining period in South Africa’s past, the response from someone like Madida reinforces the importance of protecting factual memory. It is part of an ongoing effort to ensure that the realities of apartheid are acknowledged rather than softened or minimised.

👏🏿 I’m glad that, as a so-called celebrity, you are able to voice and speak out without being afraid of being censored or canceled. pic.twitter.com/xI3Cki2j7r

NEGRO (@NegroNegro08) November 16, 2025

The wider reflection

Though the exchange was short-lived, it opened a window into the way South Africans still negotiate memory and identity. Madida’s response underlined that acknowledging the truth of apartheid is not a political stance but a factual one. For many, it served as a reminder that accuracy is essential when speaking about an era that shapes the country’s present.