Elon Musk’s Departure from South Africa: A Reaction to Military Service

Elon Musk faced backlash in 2025 over cuts to Veterans Affairs, leading to scrutiny of his past as a ‘draft dodger.’ He left South Africa to evade military conscription, citing moral objections to apartheid. His brief time at the University of Pretoria was marked by disengagement as he prepared for relocation to Canada.

In 2025, Elon Musk faced criticism following his Department of Government Efficiency’s cuts to the Veterans Affairs agency, which disrupted services for military veterans. Some critics labeled him a “draft dodger” due to his history of leaving South Africa to avoid compulsory military service. An X user referencing Grok, an AI chatbot, highlighted the irony of Musk’s situation, stating, “Who is Elon Musk to criticize any veteran?”.

Musk has openly acknowledged that he departed South Africa partially to evade conscription, asserting he would not fight for the apartheid regime. During a 2013 interview with actor Rainn Wilson, Musk explicitly mentioned his motivation for leaving: “spending two years suppressing Black people doesn’t seem to be a great use of time.”

In his biography by Ashlee Vance, it is noted that before departing for Canada at the age of 17, Musk reportedly avoided the military by not fully engaging with his education at the University of Pretoria. His motivations for leaving include a desire to reach the United States swiftly and a reluctance to take part in the apartheid system.

While Musk had a brief stint at the University of Pretoria, his lackluster performance led him to drop out as he anticipated his move to Canada. South Africa mandated military service for white males starting at 16 years old, a law that continued until the apartheid regime ended in the 1990s. Musk’s exit from South Africa occurred in 1989, leveraging his mother’s Canadian citizenship to facilitate his journey to college.

Elon Musk’s past provides significant insights into his early views on military service and the apartheid system. His decision to leave South Africa to avoid conscription has drawn both criticism and acknowledgment. Ultimately, it illustrates the complexities of his formative years alongside the controversial nature of his contemporary political involvement.

Original Source: www.snopes.com