Errol Musk, father of billionaire Elon Musk, says he is involved in a project aimed at helping South African farmers secure refugee status in Russia. According to The South African, Musk told AFP by phone from Moscow: “It’s about providing refugee status to South African farmers.”

The report says the initiative is similar to a programme already offered by the United States government to some white Afrikaners. A Russian official has reportedly said the plan could involve resettling 50 families from South Africa’s white Afrikaans minority.

Russian Official Says 50 Families Discussed

The South African reported that Vladimir region governor Aleksandr Avdeyev said he had discussed the matter with Errol Musk. In a Telegram post quoted by the publication, Avdeyev said they spoke about agriculture and the possibility of settling 50 Dutch-origin families from South Africa.

Musk did not provide detailed information about how the project would work. The report also states that Afrikaners have been emigrating to Russia since at least 2018, but that Musk’s involvement appears to be newly disclosed.

Claims of Persecution Remain Disputed

The issue is deeply political and highly contested. The South African reports that the same group of South Africans had previously been offered refugee status by US President Donald Trump’s government, which it says falsely claimed they were being persecuted under South Africa’s post-apartheid government.

The report adds that South Africa’s government has denied claims of discrimination against white Afrikaners. It also says Errol Musk repeated claims in Russian media that white Afrikaner farmers were being targeted for murder, allegations that are strongly denied in South Africa.

Elon Musk’s Comments Add More Heat

The story also lands amid renewed criticism of South Africa by Elon Musk. According to the report, he recently claimed on social media that Starlink had not been licensed in South Africa because he is “not Black”. The article notes that South African law requires major companies to meet ownership rules meant to address apartheid-era exclusion. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson responded by accusing Elon Musk of spreading “lies and disinformation”.