Video of Musk Snubbing South African President Proven to be Manipulated Footage

Amidst escalating tensions between Elon Musk and the South African government, a doctored video claiming to show the tech billionaire refusing to shake President Cyril Ramaphosa’s hand has been debunked as false.

The manipulated 11-second clip, which began circulating on social media platforms in April 2026, appears to show Ramaphosa extending his hand to Musk, who stands with arms crossed, seemingly laughing at the gesture. The video was shared with text reading: “Viral Video of Elon Musk Appearing To Snub A Handshake From South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa Has The Internet Talking.”

Fact-checkers have confirmed the footage was deceptively edited from a May 21, 2025 meeting between President Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump at the White House. The original, unaltered video—available on the South African presidency’s official YouTube channel—clearly shows Ramaphosa successfully shaking hands with all delegates present, including Musk.

The fabricated controversy emerges against a backdrop of genuine tension between Musk and South African authorities regarding his satellite internet service, Starlink. Musk, who was born in South Africa but left during apartheid to avoid military conscription, has publicly criticized the South African government for blocking Starlink’s entry into the market.

“South Africa won’t allow Starlink to be licensed, even though I was BORN THERE, simply because I am not Black!” Musk wrote to his 239 million X followers on April 12, 2026. His complaints target South Africa’s Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policies, which require companies in certain industries to sell 30 percent ownership stakes to previously disadvantaged groups—including people of African, Asian, or mixed-race descent, women of any race, and disabled individuals.

These policies, designed to address historical inequities resulting from apartheid, have been characterized by Musk as “racist.” However, President Ramaphosa has emphasized that companies can comply through alternative equity-equivalent programs rather than direct ownership transfers.

The dispute has further intensified with Musk amplifying discredited narratives about alleged persecution of white South Africans. On April 13, he reshared a video purporting to show evidence of a “white genocide” in the country—footage previously debunked by fact-checkers in 2025 when then-President Trump had screened it during a meeting with Ramaphosa.

The video actually showed crosses erected during a 2020 protest following the murder of a farming couple in South Africa’s North West province, not evidence of systematic persecution as claimed.

In response to Musk’s barrage of criticisms, presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya advised the billionaire to “move on,” stating: “It will be fair to conclude that in the absence of respect for South Africa’s transformation laws, your peddling of lies and disinformation about South Africa, the relationship you are forcefully seeking is not going to happen.”

While Starlink has expanded its operations to approximately half of Africa’s nations, South Africa isn’t alone in its resistance. Neighboring Namibia also rejected the internet service in March 2026, highlighting regional regulatory challenges for the satellite provider.

The misleading video and surrounding controversy illustrate the complex intersection of technology, national policy, and social media disinformation. As one of the world’s most powerful tech figures, Musk’s public statements carry significant weight, particularly when concerning his birth country and its policies.

The incident also underscores the growing sophistication of manipulated media and the importance of verification in an era where edited clips can rapidly fuel international misunderstandings and inflame existing tensions.