Elon Musk Sparks Controversy Over Starlink’s Rejection

Elon Musk has stirred debate after asserting that his Starlink satellite internet service was denied permission to operate in South Africa due to his race.
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On Friday, Musk took to his X account to express frustration over the regulatory barriers preventing Starlink from launching in his home country. He wrote:

“Starlink is not allowed to operate in South Africa, because I’m not black.”
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His statement was a response to South African businessman Rob Hersov, who had recently spoken on a podcast about the country’s economic direction, warning of a “socialist abyss.”

South African Officials Deny Musk’s Claim

Clayson Monyela, a senior official from South Africa’s Department of Foreign Affairs, quickly refuted Musk’s claim. Monyela responded:

“Sir, that’s NOT true & you know it! It’s got nothing to do with your skin colour. Starlink is welcome to operate in South Africa provided there’s compliance with local laws. This is a global international trade & investment principle.”

South Africa’s Regulatory Requirements for Starlink

Musk’s statement appeared to criticize South Africa’s Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policies, which require foreign telecommunications companies to allocate 30% of their local operations to historically disadvantaged groups.
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Starlink’s parent company, SpaceX, had previously objected to this requirement and withdrew from public hearings on South Africa’s new satellite service regulations. This decision likely played a role in Starlink’s stalled entry into the South African market.

ICASA and Government’s Response to Starlink’s Status

When asked about Starlink’s application status, a spokesperson from South Africa’s Independent Communications Authority (ICASA) stated that neither Starlink nor SpaceX had formally applied for a license.
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“ICASA has not received any application from Starlink or SpaceX.”

Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, told Bloomberg that the government had put Starlink’s proposal on hold indefinitely. Reports suggested that this decision was influenced by tensions between Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump over South African policies.

Public Reactions to Musk’s Statement

Musk’s claim received mixed reactions on social media. Some users supported his viewpoint, while others accused him of spreading misinformation.

Here are a few notable responses:

@IamEriOluwa: “Correction: You have opted not to operate in South Africa because you refuse to comply with the 30% Black ownership requirement. This policy aims to address historical injustices from the Apartheid era, which disproportionately benefited white South Africans.”
@GodPenuel: “So are all American-owned businesses in South Africa Black-owned? We thought X would be different from mainstream media, but it’s just as misleading.”
@BeardedPriest1: “Microsoft invested R25.8 billion in South Africa, and Bill Gates is white.”

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Conclusion

Musk’s claim that Starlink was rejected due to his race has been met with strong pushback from South African officials and social media users. While Starlink’s entry into the country faces regulatory hurdles, South Africa maintains that its policies are designed to promote fair business practices, not racial discrimination. Whether Musk will reconsider compliance with South Africa’s BEE regulations remains to be seen.