Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has slapped down an EFF MP for trying to implicate him in the party’s war of words with US billionaire Elon Musk.

EFF MP Thapelo Mogale asked Schreiber in a parliamentary question whether Elon Musk, Deon Barnard and US tech billionaires Peter Thiel and David Oliver Sacks were SA citizens and if so whether he would revoke their SA citizenship ‘since the persons are linked to the President of the US of America, 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’. 

BusinessLIVE notes that in his written reply to Mogale, Schreiber said the Department of Home Affairs would 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 divisive rhetoric, and to meaningfully commit to a programme of restitution and nation building.’

Schreiber advised Mogale to make a request for information under the Promotion of Access to Information Act, which has a prescribed form.

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