Starlink on their mind: What's @Trending in Mzansi
Starlink founder and owner Elon Musk's Starlink is a hot top, with X users divided on whether we need it or not
Starlink is trending again, this time over whether South Africa needs it. Social media users on X share their views:
@WillarShoko Eswathini now has an average download speed of 255-355 Mbps, faster than all states in America. This has been made possible by utilising local infrastructure in Southern Africa. Data centres, IXPs, and fibre in both Mozambique and South Africa. It's possible for the whole of Africa to have better Starlink internet than the rest of the world by embracing technology and approving Starlink in Africa as a continent. The approval can be done today; any other option will probably take forever, be more costly, and will significantly widen the gap. All Chinese students are learning AI today, most Africa's students don't have access to the internet.
@JenPeremore South Africans deserve Starlink operating in South Africa which will provide access to internet to rural communities, and access to news which gives a platform to a range of voices even government-opposing voices because that is what democracy is about and that is what freedom of speech is about. All the major network providers including Vodacom, CellC, MTN and Telkom must step aside and let Starlink operate in SA, because having Starlink operate in SA is not about protecting corporate interests but about the freedom of all South Africans. It's about access to unbiased information, a range of voices and empowering all Soutb Africans. BEE is not empowering anyone.
@chante75967 If China had a superior technology to @Starlink, comrade @CyrilRamaphosa would've allowed it. He clings to local cellular service providers because it's keeping him rich. We do want Starlink, @elonmusk. South Africa is falling behind technologically.
@Maso_241119 Not sure about Congo, but South Africa has one of the fastest internets in the world, and not as expensive as Starlink at that. Yet Elon forces his way through as if we need his internet, we don't.
@mat24486 What's the obsession with Starlink. Most people don't even know why they want Starlink in SA. Every time I hear Starlink and South Africa in a sentence, it feels like there's something deeper than that.
@Butch89803114 Old trick by ANC CRIMINALS to keep Starlink out of South Africa using techniques from an old bag of tricks to indefinitely delay Starlink's ability to enter the country without going through middlemen.-and will PUNISH THE MIDDLEMAN and all in South Africa.
DAILY NEWS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
3 hours ago
- The Citizen
Trump confirms date of fresh round of trade talks with China
This is the second time Washington and Beijing will meet, after the first meeting in Geneva in May. Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump. Picture: Tingshu Wang and Allison Robbert / AFP US President Donald Trump announced Friday a new round of trade talks with China in London next week, a day after calling Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in a bid to end a bitter battle over tariffs. The talks in the British capital on Monday will mark the second round of such negotiations between the world's two biggest economies since Trump launched his trade war this year. 'The meeting should go very well,' said Trump in a post on his Truth Social platform. The president added that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer would meet the Chinese team. Background on trade conflict The first talks between Washington and Beijing since Trump slapped levies on allies and adversaries alike took place in Geneva last month. ALSO READ: Trump says deal with Xi 'extremely hard' as steel tariffs double While Trump had imposed a sweeping 10 percent duty on imports from most trading partners, rates on Chinese goods rocketed as both countries engaged in an escalating tariffs battle. Temporary tariff relief and renewed friction In April, additional US tariffs on many Chinese products hit 145 percent while China hit back with countermeasures of 125 percent. Following the talks last month, both sides agreed to temporarily bring down the levels, with US tariffs cooling to 30 percent and China's levies at 10 percent. But this temporary halt is expected to expire in early August and Trump last week accused China of violating the pact, underscoring deeper differences on both sides. Strategic concerns and uncertain outcomes US officials have accused China of slow-walking export approvals of critical minerals and rare earth magnets, a key issue behind Trump's recent remarks. While Trump's long-awaited phone call with Xi this week likely paved the way for further high-level trade talks, a swift resolution to the tariffs impasse remains uncertain. NOW READ: Trump enjoys temporary win as court preserves tariffs
The Citizen
5 hours ago
- The Citizen
Top 10 stories of the day: K-word teacher loses labour case
Here's your daily news update for Friday, 6 June 2025: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. In the news today, a teacher in the Northern Cape has failed in his attempt to return to work after being dismissed for using a racial slur against two black pupils. Meanwhile, the future of 49 South Africans who have taken up refugee status in the United States is uncertain, as developments in the White House point towards Donald Trump being disillusioned over the white genocide claims. Furthermore, National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Shamila Batohi claims the National Prosecuting Authority has been infiltrated by those against the rule of law. Weather tomorrow: 7 June 2025 Weather conditions across South Africa will include frost in Gauteng and Mpumalanga, rain in the Western Cape, and isolated showers and wind in the Free State and Northern Cape. Full weather forecast here. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way. 'Using k-word is illegal': Northern Cape teacher fired for racist outburst loses reinstatement battle A teacher in the Northern Cape has failed in his attempt to return to work after being dismissed for using a racial slur against two black pupils. Gerhard Louw took the Northern Cape department of education to the Education Labour Relations Council, arguing that his dismissal was unfair. Picture: iStock At the time, Louw was employed at Technical High School Kimberley, where he taught technology and automotive subjects. He was dismissed in November last year after being found guilty at a disciplinary hearing of calling two African pupils the k-word. CONTINUE READING: 'Using k-word is illegal': Northern Cape teacher fired for racist outburst loses reinstatement battle Trump-Musk breakup: Will 49 'refugees' return to South Africa? The future of 49 South Africans who have taken up refugee status in the United States is uncertain, as developments in the White House point towards Donald Trump being disillusioned over the white genocide claims he has made about South Africa. On Thursday, a public spat broke out between Trump and South African-born billionaire Elon Musk. The two figures even made serious threats against each other on social media. The first group of Afrikaners from South Africa to arrive for resettlement in the US. Picture: Saul Loeb / AFP International relations expert Anthoni van Nieuwkerk told The Citizen the 49 refugees were in a precarious situation with the uncertainty of what Trump would do next. 'They will be left with no home and they might even want to return home, because if the appetite for accommodating Afrikaners goes away and it loses its importance, then those people will be left stranded. CONTINUE READING: Trump-Musk breakup: Will 49 'refugees' return to South Africa? WATCH: NPA 'infiltrated by those against the rule of law' – Batohi National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Advocate Shamila Batohi claims the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has been infiltrated by those against the rule of law. The NPA has recently come under fire for its handling of high-profile cases, including that of former Free State premier Ace Magashule's personal assistant and corruption co-accused, Moroadi Cholota, who was allowed to walk free. National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Shamila Batohi. Picture: Gallo Images / Phill Magakoe The Free State High Court in Bloemfontein ruled that it does not have jurisdiction to try Cholota. The NPA has continued to stumble through a series of high-profile legal bungles, including the long-running Timothy Omotoso sex trafficking trial that has dragged on for years, and the Shepherd Bushiri extradition matter. CONTINUE READING: WATCH: NPA 'infiltrated by those against the rule of law' – Batohi Mpumalanga teen girl sends police on a hunt for her rapist, but she lied On Wednesday, Mpumalanga police were sent on a manhunt for two men who were driving a black VW Polo from Dullstroom to Lydenburg on Sunday on allegations of rape. However, this turned out to be a smokescreen. According to Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, a 16-year-old girl reported to police that she was hitchhiking on Sunday and got raped after being given a lift by strangers. Picture: iStock A case docket was opened and assigned to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit for investigation. However, there was no rape case to investigate and consequently, no suspects to arrest because this was a fabricated story. Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane said on Friday that the 16-year-old girl had been charged with perjury after investigations revealed that she fabricated the entire story. CONTINUE READING: Mpumalanga teen girl sends police on a hunt for her rapist, but she lied Pick n Pay CEO receives the highest salary in retail. Here's how much others get At the top of the corporate ladder, the CEO stands as the face of pressure and power, a single person trusted with steering a company through stormy seas of inflation, consumer hesitancy and relentless competition. Those at the helm of retail companies are paid handsomely due to several factors, including qualifications, experience and responsibilities. These are the people whose vision keeps customers walking through the doors despite the crushing cost of living. Picture: Supplied The lowest-paid CEO in grocery retail is Marek Masojada, CEO of Boxer, with R5.6 million, while the highest-paid is Sean Summers, CEO of Pick n Pay, with R24.9 million. CONTINUE READING: Pick n Pay CEO receives the highest salary in retail. Here's how much others get Here are five more stories of the day: Yesterday's News recap READ HERE: Top 10 stories of the day: Kids hurt in jumping castle accident | Will SA run out of beef and chicken? | Rassie names nine new Boks
The South African
6 hours ago
- The South African
These surprising cities saw the biggest increase in millionaires
While American cities like New York or the Bay Area still boast the most dollar millionaires in real numbers, a few destinations have emerged as new hubs for the wealthy. These cities have seen the biggest increase in dollar millionaires over the past decade. They're mostly fast-growing centres of technology and innovation. Meanwhile, a few also offer tax incentives to attract the wealthy. That's according to the World's Wealthiest Cities Report 2025, which is published by Henley & Partners, a firm that advises the wealthy on where to move to look after their assets. Between 2014 and 2024, Shenzhen saw a 142% increase in dollar millionaires. The Chinese city is a major technology hub, with companies like Huawei and Tencent based there. Once a rustic fishing village, Shenzhen is now the fastest-growing destination for dollar millionaires. The technology scene continues to attract entrepreneurs and financiers. Most South Africans may not hear much about Scottsdale, but tech entrepreneurs and those with six-figure account balances will know all about it. The American city's millionaire population grew by 125% over the past decade. Like Shenzhen, Scottsdale's attraction is its booming tech industry. It also offers a luxurious lifestyle, especially in golf estates, and favourable state tax conditions. It could be a surprise, but this Indian city is popular with the very wealthy. Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore, saw a 120% increase in dollar millionaires. That took place in just ten years, between 2014 and 2024. The city's flourishing tech industry, affordable living costs, and growing infrastructure have made it a hotspot for the wealthy. Over the past decade, West Palm Beach gained 112% more dollar millionaires. This American city offers the wealthy a laid-back lifestyle, thanks to its coastal location. Because the state of Florida has low taxes, businesspeople and rich professionals also flock to West Palm Beach. 108% more millionaires now live in Hangzhou, compared to ten years ago. That growth coincided with the rise of tech companies in the city, including Alibaba. Hangzhou is a historic city with pretty scenery, making it even more attractive to the affluent. Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
