Elon Musk isn’t holding back his thoughts on why Starlink still isn’t available in South Africa.
On Sunday, the SpaceX founder blasted the government of his birth country, alleging that racial ownership requirements are the only thing standing in the way of his satellite internet service getting an operating license.
The tension stems from South Africa’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) policies. These regulations require telecommunications companies to have at least 30 percent ownership by groups historically disadvantaged under apartheid. Musk, however, sees the enforcement of these rules as a direct slight against him.
“South Africa won’t allow Starlink to be licensed, even though I was born there, simply because I am not black!” Musk posted on X. He didn’t stop at criticizing the law; he also claimed that people have suggested he find a “workaround” to get the paperwork through. “We were offered many times the opportunity to bribe our way to a license by pretending that a black guy runs Starlink SA, but I have refused to do so on principle,” he wrote.
Musk’s frustration was clear as he continued his social media streak, labeling the politicians involved as racists. “Racism should not be rewarded no matter to which race it is applied. Shame on the racist politicians in South Africa,” he stated. He went on to say that these officials “should be shown no respect whatsoever anywhere in the world and shunned for being unashamedly racists!”
Regulators with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) have a different side of the story. They argue that Starlink simply hasn’t turned in a complete application that follows the rules every other foreign investor has to follow. While Starlink has tried to push for “Equity Equivalent” programs, where they would invest in local training or tech instead of giving up ownership, the government hasn’t budged.
As the back-and-forth continues, South Africans are left waiting for high speed satellite internet while Musk remains firm on his stance.
He’s in America rigging election machines, doing Hitler solutes and who knows what. Thank GOD South Africa is not moved by his “cry”.