South Africa: Parliamentary question on the citizenship of Elon Musk, Deon Barnard, Peter Andreas Thiel and David Oliver Sacks
Published: 5/Mar/2025
Question NO44 to the Minister of Home Affairs
Mogale, Mr T to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1) Whether Elon Musk, Deon Barnard, Peter Andreas Thiel and David Oliver Sacks are South African citizens; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (2) whether he will revoke the South African citizen status of the specified persons in terms of section 8 (2)(b) of the South African Citizenship Act, Act 88 of 1995, since the persons are linked to the President of the United States of America, Mr Donald Trump, funded his presidential campaign and contributed to his negative views about the Republic, a matter that has now led to diplomatic strain between the two nations; if not, why not; if so, on what date?
Source Link
Reply:
1. The Honourable Member should kindly note that the requested information falls within the ambit of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, Act No. 2 of 2000(PAIA). Section 18(1) of the PAIA Act provides that a request for access must be made in the prescribed form to the information officer of the public body concerned at his or her address or fax number or electronic mail address. Similarly, the Protection of Personal Information Act, Act No 4 of 2013(POPIA), applies in conjunction with the aforementioned act.
As part of such request , the Department requires the provision of the full personal particulars, including the identity number, alternatively the date of birth, of the person in question, in order to determine the citizen status of any individual holding South African citizenship or granted citizenship through the naturalisation process. The Honourable Member is advised to provide the details accordingly.
2. As I have indicated in response to similar previous requests, the Department of Home Affairs will not weaponise the law to pursue political ends. Instead of being based on politics, our decisions are informed by the requirements of the Constitution, the rule of law, rationality, and just administrative action.
It furthermore appears that the Honourable Member was motivated to submit this particular question out of fear for the repercussions that his party leader may soon face for the years of hateful and violent rhetoric he has directed at certain segments of our society. Rather than seeking to cower behind the Minister of Home Affairs in an ill-fated attempt to escape from the possible consequences of his actions, it is advisable for the Honourable Member’s party leader to apologise for his inflammatory and devisive rhetoric, and to meaningfully commit to a programme of restitution and nation building.
END.
Read on Parliamentary Monitoring Group website: https://pmg.org.za/committee-question/28275/