By: Bright Ntuli
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has criticised South Africa’s Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) legislation, claiming it has prevented his satellite internet company, Starlink, from operating in the country.
Musk, who was born in Pretoria, South Africa, alleged that Starlink has been barred from entering the South African market because he is “not Black”.
His comments were made during an appearance at the Qatar Economic Forum this week, where he described the laws as “racist” and “improper”.
Under current regulations, Starlink must obtain both individual network and service licences to operate legally in South Africa. These licences require that companies maintain a minimum of 30 percent ownership by historically disadvantaged South Africans, as defined by the BEE framework.
The policy was introduced in the post-apartheid era to address systemic inequalities by promoting the economic participation of Black South Africans, as well as women and people with disabilities.
Despite its growing popularity in other parts of Africa, including Nigeria, Kenya, and Mozambique, Starlink has not yet launched in South Africa.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has previously confirmed that no application from Starlink or its local representatives had been approved, reportedly due to non-compliance with local ownership requirements.
However, reports suggest the South African government is now exploring a possible workaround or exemption to allow Starlink’s services to be made available in the country. This comes amid increasing demand for affordable and reliable internet access, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
