ELON MUSK’S DEEP ROOTS
IN APARTHEID

South Africa-born Elon Musk has been at the centre of tense relations between the Trump administration and his country of birth. Apart from Musk’s misinformation-laden X posts, accusing Pretoria of 'racist policies' that allegedly discriminate against White people, the tech billionaire is also believed to be a key part of the Trump team behind the recent policies against the African nation.

This has brought to the fore the question of why Musk might have a personal vendetta against South Africa's post-apartheid government and its policies, which often seek to reverse the legacy of apartheid.

In this video from an interview with Democracy Now , journalist and former South Africa correspondent for The Guardian newspaper Chris McGreal breaks down Musk's familial ties to the apartheid system. He points out how Elon's grandfather moved specifically to South Africa because of its racist policies against Black people.

Continued….. He also highlights how growing up in a pro-apartheid family and environment could have influenced Elon's political views as an adult. While he can not be faulted for the views of his grandfather and the other adults he grew up around, he can and should be held accountable for his fanatical opposition to policies that seek to redress the negative impact of centuries of racist oppression against Black South Africans.

Credit: Democracy Now!/YouTube

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.: I’M TIRED OF MARCHING!

The Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr (1929-68) was not just a civil rights leader. He was a revolutionary who fought tirelessly against racism, injustice and economic oppression, knowing that true freedom is impossible without equality. 

Fifty-seven years ago today, he was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. While he led and participated in marches for the right to vote, desegregation and labour rights, his most dangerous act—at least in the eyes of the US establishment—was his unapologetic criticism of US imperialism. On 4 April 1967, he denounced the US war in Vietnam, exposing how war abroad fuels oppression domestically. This marked a turning point, and led to his assassination precisely one year later on 4 April 1968.

Continued……In this 1966 video clip, King lets people know that he, too, is exhausted from fighting for Black people’s rights. His struggle was not just for himself but for generations oppressed by systemic injustice. 

Today, the battle continues. Imperialism, in its many forms, still robs people of dignity, resources and genuine self-determination. King reminds us that justice delayed is justice denied, and though we, too, may grow weary, we must press on, as oppression anywhere is a threat to freedom everywhere.

Continue to rest in peace, King!

Credit: ‘Eyes on the Prize,’ @PBS (1987-90) / @TheKingCenter

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MOTHER OF THE NATION

This week, we mark the death anniversary of Winnie Madikizela Mandela, a fierce revolutionary who fought at the frontlines against the apartheid regime during her time. Winnie breathed her last on 2 April 2018. While Western media tried to reduce her to footnotes and controversy, Pan Africanists acrosss the world remember her not as a widow but as a warrior who never stopped fighting against imperialism. Today, we take a few moments to recall her efforts towards the emancipation of her people and why they still refer to her as ‘mama’

AFRICAN CULTURE INFLUENCED EUROPEAN ARTS

Today, as we celebrate poet and civil-rights activist Maya Angelou’s birthday - we honour her voice, her legacy and the truths she so powerfully shared with the world.

This 1968 clip is from her ‘Blacks, Blues, and Black’ series. She discusses how African culture and creativity have significantly influenced European art, highlighting the importance of Africa’s rich cultural history.

Continued……Dr. Angelou uses the ancient city of Timbuktu as an example. It was an intellectual and spiritual capital and a centre for the spread of Islam throughout Africa in the 15th and 16th centuries. She notes that scholars from around the world travelled to Timbuktu to study at its renowned university, a hub for those seeking knowledge. Several hundred thousand priceless manunoscripts still exist from this period.

Additionally, she points out that famous artists such as Picasso found inspiration in ancient sculptures from Benin and Nigeria.

Happy birthday Maya. Continue to rest in peace.

Video Credit: 1968 Blacks, Blues, Black series

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Continued………However, mainstream media minimises his legacy to a feel-good quote and a safe soundbite from the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. They rarely speak of the King who challenged capitalism, exposed the hypocrisy of U.S. foreign policy and demanded a restructuring of the global order.

As he grew in political awareness, King began to address economic issues, championing a more equitable distribution of wealth and resources. He recognised that poverty and unemployment were not personal failures but historically systemic injustices that demanded actions, not mere rhetoric.

Throughout his speeches, King challenged the ‘bootstrap mentality’, which suggests that anyone can succeed in the US through hard work and determination. He also argued that the US ruling class, through capitalism and imperialism, profited from the hard work of others, whether it be Vietnamese in the Global South or Black people in America. Ultimately, he became an existential threat to the U.S. establishment - not because he dreamed, but because he refused to stay silent about the U.S.’ crimes

Would Dr. King stay silent while while Western corporations continue to plunder Africa, hiding behind trade deals, IMF conditions and military aid?

Continued……. Lesotho is now staring at potential job losses and factory closures, raising suspicions about the true intentions of AGOA. The deal’s framework is hinged on a set of conditions, among which is support for ‘democracy’ and ‘internationally recognised human rights.’ Washington reviews a country’s eligibility annually, and can revoke it based on non-adherence to these requirements - in other words, using AGOA to force Africans to toe Washington’s line (South Africa’s experience after filing a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice being a prime example).

The new tariffs have sparked strong opposition, with South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters party condemning them as ‘imperialist tactics designed to maintain America’s economic dominance at the expense of developing countries.’

Swipe through for the full African list.

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8dgmyzqr6do

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/regulating-imports-with-a-reciprocal-tariff-to-rectify-trade-practices-that-contribute-to-large-and-persistent-annual-united-states-goods-trade-deficits/

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-reciprocal-tariffs-liberation-day-list/

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/apr/03/trumps-tariffs-the-full-list

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/4/have-trumps-tariffs-killed-us-africa-preferential-trade

https://allafrica.com/stories/202504030443.html

https://businessday.ng/business-economy/article/full-list-of-african-countries-affected-by-trumps-tariffs/

https://archive.ph/gG9jE

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-67284812

WINNIE MANDELA TELLS OFF WHITE POLICE OFFICERS

As we continue commemorating the legacy of one of Africa’s anti-colonial heroines, South African liberation icon Winnie Mandela, who died this week in 2018, we share this video believed to be from the 1980s at the height of apartheid. The rare footage shows Mama Winnie, as she was fondly known by millions of supporters, confronting white police officers who had illegally detained Black people in the township of Soweto, on the outskirts of Johannesburg.

The video captures Mama Winnie in her element, an unwavering freedom fighter, a voice of the voiceless and one never to cower in the face of oppression.

Continued……. Even after the fall of apartheid, when many former liberators turned their backs on ordinary Black South Africans, Mama Winnie continued her courageous stand, remaining in the trenches with the downtrodden masses.

For this reason, Winnie Mandela remains an inspiration and shinning light for the ongoing global struggle against imperialism.

Video credit: Pascale Lamche

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