Elon Musk’s Controversial Departure from South Africa and Military Service
In 2025, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency made cuts to Veterans Affairs, stirring criticism from veterans. Musk has a controversial history as a ‘draft dodger,’ having left South Africa at 17 to avoid conscription during apartheid. He expressed ethical concerns about participating in the military. His brief college experience in South Africa is often overlooked in discussions about his motives for leaving the country for Canada.
In early 2025, disruptions occurred within the Veterans Affairs (VA) agency following budget cuts implemented by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an advisory role involving former President Donald Trump. These cuts drew significant criticism from military veterans, with some users on social media expressing concern over Musk’s history as a so-called “draft dodger”—a term used for those who evade military conscription.
An X user referenced Grok, an AI chatbot, stating, “Elon Musk is a draft dodger according to Grok! My brother spent a year in a South African prison as a conscientious objector—eating worm-infested porridge—against apartheid when he was conscripted. Who is Elon Musk to criticize any veteran?” This revelation led many to scrutinize Musk’s past, particularly his admissions regarding his departure from South Africa to avoid mandatory military service.
Musk has openly acknowledged that his departure from South Africa at the age of 17 was motivated in part by his desire to escape conscription. In a notable interview with actor Rainn Wilson, Musk remarked on the morality of fighting for an apartheid state, emphasizing, “You know, spending two years suppressing Black people doesn’t seem to be a great use of time.” This statement supports the assessment that Musk’s decision was fueled by ethical concerns.
In his biography by journalist Ashlee Vance, it is noted that Musk left South Africa for Canada, using his Canadian ancestry as a means to reach the United States. The biography highlights Musk’s disinterest in attending the University of Pretoria, which he attended for only five months before deciding to leave, further illustrating his mindset of avoiding military service. It posits that Musk regarded his university time merely as a delay in seeking his Canadian citizenship, rather than a serious academic endeavor.
South Africa mandated compulsory military service for all white males over the age of 16 starting in 1967. This requirement was later expanded to two years and 30 days annually by 1977. Mandatory military service was officially abolished with the end of apartheid in the 1990s. Musk ultimately left South Africa in 1989, opting for his studies in Canada, where his mother held citizenship.
Elon Musk’s past, particularly his evasion of military service in South Africa, has become a point of contention amidst recent cuts to the Veterans Affairs agency. His admissions reflect a choice influenced by ethical considerations regarding apartheid, rather than an avoidance of duty for personal gain. Consequently, this history is integral to discussions surrounding his leadership and criticism of military veterans.
Original Source: www.snopes.com
