South Africa’s political scene is buzzing as the DA’s Minister of Communications, Solly Malatsi , pushes to bend transformation (BEE) laws ...
South Africa’s political scene is buzzing as the DA’s Minister of Communications, Solly Malatsi, pushes to bend transformation (BEE) laws to let Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet company set up shop here. This move has sparked fierce debate, with ANC’s deputy Cuseladiko publicly dragging Malatsi on Twitter. The stakes are high because it’s Elon Musk — a controversial figure who’s spent years criticizing South Africa and meddling in its affairs — trying to bypass rules designed to ensure Black economic empowerment.
The Good:
Millions of South Africans, especially in rural and underserved urban areas, still struggle with expensive, unreliable internet. South Africa’s data costs are among the highest in the world relative to income, and competition hasn’t brought prices down. Starlink’s satellite internet has already helped people in over a dozen African countries, including Nigeria and Kenya, where its arrival pushed incumbents to lower prices and improve service. Starlink could finally break the grip of pricey telcos, offering cheaper, better internet to more South Africans.
The Bad:
But South Africa has strict rules requiring companies in the telecoms sector to be at least 30% black-owned to promote economic transformation. Musk keeps claiming Starlink can’t operate here because he’s not Black — but the real reason is that Starlink simply hasn’t met these regulations. Malatsi now wants to create an exception through “equity equivalent investment programs” (EIPs), letting companies invest in community programs instead of selling ownership shares. This sets a risky precedent and is facing pushback from existing telcos, who claim it’s unfair since they followed the rules.
The Ugly:
Beyond the economics, Elon Musk himself is a deeply divisive figure. He’s spread misinformation about South Africa, supported conspiracies, and even threatened to cut off Starlink service in Ukraine during a political spat. Just recently, one of Musk’s AI projects stirred up disinformation about sensitive South African issues. Giving him control over internet access in South Africa raises serious questions about regulation, power, and who controls the flow of information in a democracy that’s still fighting inequality and misinformation.
Bottom Line:
Starlink’s arrival could transform internet access in South Africa for the better — if the BEE rules can be balanced fairly. But letting Elon Musk, with all his baggage and power, take such a central role in the country’s digital future is a whole different debate. This is a complex fight about internet access, economic justice, and who calls the shots in South Africa’s digital age. What do you think?
Got thoughts? Hit us up on WhatsApp
.png)
COMMENTS