A South African high court has ruled that claims backed by Elon Musk of a “genocide” targeting white people are imaginary.

A judge in the Western Cape high court said that claims black people intended to wipe out white South Africans had historically been used to bolster white nationalism in the country.

The ruling came as the court set aside the will of a man who had left £1.7 million to be used by a Right-wing paramilitary group for illegal training.

Judge Rosheni Allie ruled that the bequest to the Boerelegioen by Grantland Michael Bray was invalid because it “promoted racial hatred” and was contrary to public policy.