Latest news with #ANC-connected
The Citizen
4 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
NPA failures need more scrutiny
The NPA's inability to jail state capture suspects like Moroadi Cholota continues to erode public confidence. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) considers that it was unlucky in the ruling handed down by the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein which allowed one of former Free State premier Ace Magashule's corruption co-accused to walk free. NPA national spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said the organisation was 'taken aback by the judgment' because the NPA believed Moroadi Cholota and her lawyers were effectively appealing the United States judgment which permitted her extradition from there. Clearly, he missed Bloemfontein judge Philip Loubser stating 'it is undeniable that the state presented false and incorrect information to United States authorities', information upon which those authorities acted in good faith and deported Cholota. Without getting into the legal minutiae, this is clearly another example where the NPA has failed to progress a case against a high-profile state capture accused. It has now been eight years since the release of the 'Gupta Leaks' information which fingered a host of ANC-connected individuals in state capture. ALSO READ: NPA 'taken aback' over Moroadi Cholota extradition ruling, hints at appeal In that time, the NPA has failed in a number of attempts to finalise successful prosecutions, including those involving the Estina Dairy, former Eskom executive Matshela Koko, ANC politician Zizi Kodwa and the extradition of the Gupta brothers from the United Arab Emirates to stand trial in South Africa. It's an often-aired, but manifestly true, complaint from the public that, despite the massive coverage of apparently well-sourced allegations in the media about state capture, no politician or business person has ended up behind bars wearing an orange prison uniform. There are three possible reasons for that. First, all these good citizens are innocent and it has been a plot by white monopoly capital-bought media. Second, the level of incompetence within the NPA beggars belief. Finally, the NPA is being 'persuaded' – one way or another – to not do its job properly. You decide which one is most likely… NOW READ: NPA lacking in lottery probe
IOL News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Is the ANC playing Russian Roulette?
Given the current relationship between South Africa and the USA, the appointment of Mcebisi Jonas by President Ramaphosa is either deliberately provocative and reckless, or an indication that the president did not apply his mind to the matter, and was badly advised by his inner circle of cadre deployment specialists, says the writer. Russian Roulette is a potentially deadly game of chance where participants take turns firing a revolver loaded with one bullet at their head, without knowing whether the chamber is loaded or not. The game is often associated with recklessness, danger, and unpredictability. A serious question may be: Is the ANC playing Russian Roulette in its relations with the USA? There are many examples, but the most recent is the appointment of Mr Mcebisi Jonas, the highly regarded former deputy minister of Finance. Jonas has an excellent reputation, and he would be a good choice in ordinary circumstances. But given the current relationship between South Africa and the USA, his appointment by President Ramaphosa is either deliberately provocative and reckless, or an indication that the president did not apply his mind to the matter, and was badly advised by his inner circle of cadre deployment specialists. Of course, Jonas should have used his brains and said that he was highly flattered but was not the right person for the task, given his chairmanship of MTN, which has a huge financial interest in Iran, the USA's enemy No. 1. He might also have added that his recorded remarks at the Kathrada lecture in 2020 about Trump made him an impossible choice. Jonas described Trump as racist, homophobic, and narcissistic. Trump is unlikely to forgive or forget such remarks, and the chances of a cosy White House chat between Trump (or even one of his juniors) and Jonas seem somewhat remote. The loaded revolver metaphor goes on. Nomvula Mokonyane, ANC deputy secretary-general, expressed enthusiasm for the renaming of Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive. Khaled is the notorious aeroplane hijacker and Palestinian Terrorist. Mokonyane did so after the Johannesburg Metro was quietly putting the renaming on the back burner. She wanted the name change so the US consulate, at 1 Sandton Drive, would have to undergo a complete rebranding of the consulate. 'We are sending a message that they cannot dominate us and tell us what to do. It must be in their face, it must be in their computers, in their letterheads.' She hoped that in her lifetime, it would become Leila Khaled Drive. The sheer arrogant recklessness of this stupid person should have led to her firing, but somehow, she missed the bullet. The loaded revolver game is also played by the ANC against itself. SA voters are turning against the ANC because the overwhelming need is for economic growth and jobs. The ANC continues with corruption, unpopular policies of race, giving advantages to the ANC-connected, expropriation, and the unaffordable aspects of NHI. The latest madness is the publication of numerical race targets for every occupation, profession, whether in the private or public sector. Coloureds, or Indians, or Whites must not be 'over-represented.' If Whites are 4% of the general population, then they can only occupy 4% of the jobs. Only race matters, not skills or where one is in the country. Instead of unleashing the economy, enabling it to grow, the ANC ridiculously creates more and more regulations that will hurt business, not grow it. Instead of paying some attention to its GNU partners, some of whom have experience of running successful businesses and have the policy recipe for prosperity and greatly increased opportunities for all our people, black and white, the ANC again plays Russian Roulette with our economy and future as a country. When will they learn that Russian Roulette is dangerous, reckless, and unpredictable, and that at some stage the revolver does not just click? Douglas Gibson is a former opposition chief whip and a former ambassador to Thailand.
BBC News
16-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Di racial kasala between Musk and South Africa over Starlink
Di kasala between Starlink boss Elon Musk and South Africa ova failure of di company to launch stems for di kontri from di black empowerment laws of di kontri fit be one factors wey dey behind di diplomatic issues between di US and South Africa For im more dan 219 million followers for im social media platform X, Mr Musk bin make di racially charged claim say im satellite internet service provider "no dey allowed to operate for South Africa simply becos I no be black". But di Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) - one regulatory body for di telecommunications and broadcasting sectors - tell di BBC say Starlink bin neva submit any application to get licence. As for di foreign ministry, e tok say di company bin dey welcome to operate for di kontri "so far as dem follow local laws". So wetin be di legal sticking points? To operate for South Africa, Starlink need to get network and service licences, di two of dem require 30% ownership by historically disadvantaged groups. Dis mainly refer to di majority black population for South Africa wey dem remove from di company during di racist system of apartheid. White-minority rule bin end for 1994 afta Nelson Mandela and im African National Congress (ANC) enta power. Since den, di ANC don make "black empowerment" one central pillar of di economic policy to try to tackle di racial injustices of di past. Dis bin include adopting legislation ey require investors to give local black firms [companies] 30% stake for dia businesses for South Africa. Mr Musk - wey dem born for South Africa for 1971 bifor im move to Canada for di late 1980s and den to di US, wia im become di richest man for di world - be like say im see dis as di main stumbling block for Starlink to operate for di kontri. Starlink, for one written submission to Icasa, bin tok say, di black empowerment provisions for legislation exclude "many" foreign satellite operators from di South African market, according to local news site TechCentral. But foreign ministry tok-tok pesin Clayson Monyela bin challenge dis view for March, e tok on X say more dan 600 US companies, including computing giant Microsoft, bin dey operate for South Africa in compliance wit di laws - and "thriving" [dem dey do well]. Attempts dey to end di problem? Mr Musk Starlink get potential ally for South Africa Communications Minister Solly Malatsi. Im come from di Democratic Alliance (DA) - di second-biggest party for South Africa - wey bin join di coalition goment afta di ANC bin fail to get a parliamentary majority for last year election. Di DA na ogbonge critic of di current black empowerment laws, e claim say dem don make di appointment of friends and associates to positions of authority, without proper regard to dia qualifications worse, and corruption wit investors wey dey forced to link up wit ANC-connected companies to operate for South Africa or to win state contracts. Last October, Malatsi bin hint say im bin dey look for way to go about di 30% black equity requirement. E say im bin wan issue a "policy direction" to Icasa wit di aim of clarifying "di position on di recognition of equity equivalent programmes". To break am down, Malatsi dey suggest say Starlink no go require black business partner for South Africa, though dem need to invest in social programmes wey go benefit black pipo - especially di poor. But some six months later, Malatsi don fail to change di policy, tok-tok pesin for im department tell di BBC say dia legal team bin still dey chook eye into di mata. E be like say di communications minister fit dey face political resistance from ANC lawmakers for parliament. Khusela Diko, di chairpesin of di parliamentary communications committee wey be Malatsi oga, bin don warn am earlier dis month say "transformation" for di tech sector dey non-negotiable, e be like say im no ant make dem give Mr Musk Starlink any special treatment. Diko tok say "di law dey clear on compliance" im add as im dey warn, say "to cut corners and to follow backyard no dey di option - di least of all na to appease business interests". Diko tough position dey come as no surprise, as relations between di South African goment and di US don hit rock bottom during US President Donald Tump second term. Why dia relations no dey good again? Mr Musk, wey be part of Trump inner circle, bin dey para on X against wetin im call "racist ownership laws" for South Africa, while di US president bin threaten to boycott di G20 summit of world leaders wey go happun for di kontri later dis year. "How we go dey expected to go to South Africa for di very important G20 Meeting wen Land Confiscation and Genocide na di primary topic of conversation? Dem dey take di land of white Farmers, and den kill dem and dia families," Trump tok for im social media platform Truth Social. Im claims of genocide against white farmers don dey widely dismissed as false, but dem dey echo those of di tech billionaire. Last month, Mr Musk bin accuse "one major" political party for South Africa - a reference to di radical Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), wey be fourth for last year election - say dem dey "actively promote white genocide". "One month ago, di South African goment bin pass law wey legalise taking property from white pipo at will, wit no payment," Mr Musk tok. "Wia di outrage dey? Why di legacy media no cover am? South Africa pass law earlier dis year wey allow di goment to seize property witout compensation, but only for certain cases. Wit all dis, Musk link dis issues to im failure to get a licence for Starlink. "Starlink no go fit get license to operate for South Africa simply becos I no be black." im bin tok for March. Im hard-line stance dey come despite meeting South Africa president for New York last year. Dat time, Mr Musk bin describe di meeting as "great", while President Cyril Ramaphosa bin tok say im bin don try to persuade di billionaire to invest for South Africa. "To meeting Elon Musk na my clear intention... Some pipo call am bromance, so na a whole process of rekindling im affection and connection wit South Africa," Ramaphosa bin tell South Africa public broadcaster, SABC. But im add say dem neva "conclude anytin yet". "As e dey happun wit potential investors, you need to be friends wit dem; you need to dey tok to dem, and you get to dey show dem say beta environment dey for dem to invest. So, we go see how dis one turn out," di president tok. "Im be South African-born and South Africa na im home, and I want to see am come to South Africa for a visit, tour or whatever." But di "bromance" don end since, as e be like say Mr Musk dey move closer to South Africa right wing. Starlink bin don get problems anywia for Africa? E be like say Lesotho don bow to pressure from di Trump administration as dem announce on Monday say dem don give 10-year licence to Starlink. Dis dey come afta Trump sama 50% tariff on imports from Lesotho, wey threaten thousands of jobs for di kontri. Later, Trump pause am for 90 days, but e still sama dem 10% tariff wey start on 5 April. Some reports suggest say Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) bin clear regulatory hurdles to stave off di threat of any further tariff hike by granting Starlink licence. However, Foreign Minister Lejone Mpotjoane deny di claim. "Di licence application and di tariff negotiations dey different," im tok. Civil society group Section Two condemn di decision to grant di licence ey bin raise concern say Starlink Lesotho was 100% foreign-owned and dem no get local ownership, na wetin South Africa GroundUp news site bin report. "Di best way to describe dis kain action na betrayal - a shameful sell-out by a goment wey appear to increasingly dey ready to place foreign corporate interests above di democratic will and long-term developmental needs of di pipo of Lesotho," na wetin dem say Section Two co-ordinator Kananelo Boloetse tok. During public consultations ova Starlink application, Vodacom Lesotho bin also argue say make Mr Musk company establish local shareholding bifor dem receive licence, di Space in Africa website report. "Dis concerns highlight broader tensions wey dey surround Starlink operations across Africa, particularly di growing demand for local partnerships," e add.. Starlink also appear to dey seek an exemption for Namibia from di requirement to bring in a local partner. Namibia na former colony of Germany, and bin dey under di rule of South Africa white-minority regime until dem gain independence for 1990. Dem get more tougher requirement dan dia post-apartheid neighbour, wit businesses wey dey operate for Namibia go need to be 51% locally owned. Di Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) tell di BBC say Starlink bin submit application for o telecommunications service licence for June 2024. Cran say while dis process usually dey take between three to six months, dem neva take any decison yet becos dem "must first wait to finalise di ownership exemption application" by Namibia information and communication technology minister. How big Starlink presence be for Africa? Starlink dey operate for more dan 20 African kontris, wit Somalia, wey dey suffer from Islamist insurgency - give am10-year licence on 13 April, two days bifor Lesotho decide to give dem too. "We welcome Starlink entry to Somalia. Dis initiative align wit our vision to deliver affordable and accessible internet services to all Somalis, regardless of wia dem dey live," Technology Minister Mohamed Adam Moalim Ali tok. Starlink go provide high-speed internet services to remote or underserved areas, e go be a potential game-changer for rural areas wey no fit access traditional forms of connectivity such as mobile broadband and fibre. Dis na beco Starlink, instead of relying on fibre optics or cables to transmit data, dey use a network of satellites for low Earth orbit. Becos dem dey closer to di ground, dem get faster transmission speeds dan traditional satellites. Nigeria na di first African state to allow Starlink to operate, for 2023. Di company since dat time don grown into di second-biggest internet service provider for di most-populous kontri for Africa. But Starlink no still get any presence for South Africa - di most industrialised nation for di continent. Enterprising locals bin don find way to connect to di service by using regional roaming packages wey dem bin buy for kontris wia di service bin dey available. Starlink end am last year while Icasa bin also warn local companies say anybody wey dem catch, wey dey provide di service illegally fit face hefty fine. Yet wit an estimated 20% of South Africans not having access to di internet at all - many in rural areas - e fit dey beneficial for both Starlink and di goment to reach a compromise. For Starlink e fit bring more market, while satellite broadband fit help di goment achieve dia goal of providing universal internet access by 2030. On Monday, Ramaphosa bin appoint former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas as im special envoy to di US, signalling im determination to mend relations wit di Trump administration. But Jonas appointment face backlash for right-wing circles, as for one 2020 speech im bin call Trump a "racist homophobe" and a "narcissistic right-winger". For one interview on di Money Show podcast, Jonas bin tok say im bin make di comments wen im bin no dey goment and "pipo move on". Im bin acknowledge say e go be a "long slog to rebuild understanding", but im add say South Africa relationship wit di US bin dey "fundamentally important" and im dey determined to improve am. Jonas' comments no dey surprising as di US na major trading partner for South Africa. Wit Trump wey threaten a 30% tariff on dia goods, Ramaphosa no go fit afford to see relations continue to spoil and di economy dey go downward.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Racially charged row between Musk and South Africa over Starlink
The tussle between Starlink boss Elon Musk and South Africa over the company's failure to launch in the country stems from the nation's black empowerment laws, and could be one factor behind the diplomatic row between the US and Africa's most industrialised nation. To his more than 219 million followers on his social media platform X, Mr Musk made the racially charged claim that his satellite internet service provider was "not allowed to operate in South Africa simply because I'm not black". But the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) - a regulatory body in the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors - told the BBC that Starlink had never submitted an application for a licence. As for the foreign ministry, it said the company was welcome to operate in the country "provided there's compliance with local laws". To operate in South Africa, Starlink needs to obtain network and service licences, which both require 30% ownership by historically disadvantaged groups. This mainly refers to South Africa's majority black population, which was shut out of the economy during the racist system of apartheid. White-minority rule ended in 1994 after Nelson Mandela and his African National Congress (ANC) came to power. Since then, the ANC has made "black empowerment" a central pillar of its economic policy in an attempt to tackle the racial injustices of the past. This has included adopting legislation requiring investors to give local black firms a 30% stake in their businesses in South Africa. Mr Musk - who was born in South Africa in 1971 before moving to Canada in the late 1980s and then to the US, where he became the world's richest man - appears to see this as the main stumbling block for Starlink to operate in the country. Starlink, in a written submission to Icasa, said the black empowerment provisions in legislation excluded "many" foreign satellite operators from the South African market, according to local news site TechCentral. But foreign ministry spokesperson Clayson Monyela challenged this view in March, saying on X that more than 600 US companies, including computing giant Microsoft, were operating in South Africa in compliance with its laws - and "thriving". Mr Musk's Starlink has a potential ally in South Africa's Communications Minister Solly Malatsi. He comes from the Democratic Alliance (DA) - the second-biggest party in South Africa - which joined a coalition government after the ANC failed to get a parliamentary majority in last year's election. The DA is a fierce critic of the current black empowerment laws, claiming they have fuelled cronyism and corruption with investors forced to link up with ANC-connected companies to operate in South Africa or to win state contracts. Last October, Malatsi hinted that he was looking for a way to circumvent the 30% black equity requirement, saying he intended to issue a "policy direction" to Icasa with the aim of clarifying "the position on the recognition of equity equivalent programmes". In simple terms, Malatsi seemed to be suggesting that Starlink would not a require black business partner in South Africa, though it would have to invest in social programmes aimed at benefiting black people - especially the poor. But some six months later, Malatsi has failed to change the policy, with a spokesperson for his department telling the BBC that their legal team was still looking into the matter. It seems the communications minister may be facing political resistance from ANC lawmakers in parliament. Khusela Diko, the chairperson of the parliamentary communications committee to which Malatsi is accountable, warned him earlier this month that "transformation" in the tech sector was non-negotiable, appearing to oppose giving Mr Musk's Starlink any special treatment. Diko said that "the law is clear on compliance" and, crucially added, that "cutting corners and circumvention is not an option - least of all to appease business interests". Diko's tough position comes as no surprise, as relations between the South African government and the US have hit rock bottom during US President Donald Tump's second term. Mr Musk, part of Trump's inner circle, has railed on X against what he calls "racist ownership laws" in South Africa, while the US president has threatened to boycott the G20 summit of world leaders to be held in the country later this year. "How could we be expected to go to South Africa for the very important G20 Meeting when Land Confiscation and Genocide is the primary topic of conversation? They are taking the land of white Farmers, and then killing them and their families," Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social. His claims of a genocide against white farmers have been widely dismissed as false, but they echo those of the tech billionaire. Last month, Mr Musk accused "a major" political party in South Africa - a reference to the radical Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which came fourth in last year's election - of "actively promoting white genocide". "A month ago, the South African government passed a law legalizing taking property from white people at will with no payment," Mr Musk said. "Where is the outrage? Why is there no coverage by the legacy media? South Africa did pass a law earlier this year allowing the government to seize property without compensation, but only in certain cases. Nevertheless, Musk links these issues to his failure to get a licence for Starlink. "Starlink can't get a license to operate in South Africa simply because I'm not black." he said back in March. His hard-line stance comes despite meeting South Africa's president in New York last year. At the time, Mr Musk described the meeting as "great", while President Cyril Ramaphosa said he had tried to persuade the billionaire to invest in South Africa. "Meeting Elon Musk was a clear intention of mine... Some people call it bromance, so it's a whole process of rekindling his affection and connection with South Africa," Ramaphosa told South Africa's public broadcaster, SABC. But he added that nothing had yet been "bedded down". "As it happens with potential investors, you have to court them; you have to be talking to them, and you've got to be demonstrating to them that there is a conducive environment for them to invest. So, we will see how this turns out," the president said. "He is South African-born and South Africa is his home, and I would want to see him coming to South Africa for a visit, tour or whatever." But the "bromance" has long ended, with Mr Musk appearing to move closer to South Africa's right wing. Lesotho appears to have bowed to pressure from the Trump administration by announcing on Monday that it had given a 10-year licence to Starlink. It comes after Trump imposed a 50% tariff on imports from Lesotho, threatening thousands of jobs in the country. Trump subsequently paused that for 90 days, but a 10% tariff still came into effect on 5 April. Some reports suggest the Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) cleared regulatory hurdles to stave off the threat of a further tariff hike by granting Starlink a licence. However, this was denied by Foreign Minister Lejone Mpotjoane. "The licence application and the tariff negotiations should not be conflated," he said. The decision to grant the licence was condemned by civil society group Section Two, which raised concern that Starlink Lesotho was 100% foreign-owned and lacked local ownership, South Africa's GroundUp news site reported. "Such actions can only be described as a betrayal - a shameful sell-out by a government that appears increasingly willing to place foreign corporate interests above the democratic will and long-term developmental needs of the people of Lesotho," Section Two's co-ordinator Kananelo Boloetse was quoted as saying. During public consultations over Starlink's application, Vodacom Lesotho had also argued that Mr Musk's company should establish local shareholding before receiving a licence, the Space in Africa website reported. "These concerns highlight broader tensions surrounding Starlink's operations across Africa, particularly the growing demand for local partnerships," it added. Starlink also appears to be seeking an exemption in Namibia from the requirement to bring in a local partner. Namibia is a former colony of Germany, and was under the rule of South Africa's white-minority regime until it gained independence in 1990. It has more stringent requirements than its post-apartheid neighbour, with businesses operating in Namibia needing to be 51% locally owned. The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) told the BBC that Starlink had submitted an application for a telecommunications service licence in June 2024. Cran said that while this process usually took between three to six months, a decision had not yet been taken because it "must first wait for the ownership exemption application to be finalised" by Namibia's information and communication technology minister. Starlink is now operating in more than 20 African countries, with Somalia, hit by an Islamist insurgency, giving it a 10-year licence on 13 April, two days before Lesotho's decision to do so. "We welcome Starlink's entry to Somalia. This initiative aligns with our vision to deliver affordable and accessible internet services to all Somalis, regardless of where they live," Technology Minister Mohamed Adam Moalim Ali said. Starlink aims to provide high-speed internet services to remote or underserved areas, making it a potential game-changer for rural areas unable to access traditional forms of connectivity such as mobile broadband and fibre. This is because Starlink, rather than relying on fibre optics or cables to transmit data, uses a network of satellites in low Earth orbit. Because they are closer to the ground, they have faster transmission speeds than traditional satellites. Nigeria was the first African state to allow Starlink to operate, in 2023. The company has since grown into the second-biggest internet service provider in Africa's most-populous country. But Starlink still has no presence in South Africa - the continent's most industrialised nation. Enterprising locals had found a way to connect to the service by using regional roaming packages purchased in countries where the service was available. Starlink put an end to this last year while Icasa also warned local companies that those found providing the service illegally could face a hefty fine. Yet with an estimated 20% of South Africans not having access to the internet at all - many in rural areas - it could prove beneficial for both Starlink and the government to reach a compromise. For Starlink it could prove a lucrative market, while satellite broadband may help the government achieve its goal of providing universal internet access by 2030. On Monday, Ramaphosa appointed former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas as his special envoy to the US, signalling his determination to mend relations with the Trump administration. But Jonas' appointment faced a backlash in right-wing circles, as in a 2020 speech he called Trump a "racist homophobe" and a "narcissistic right-winger". In an interview on the Money Show podcast, Jonas said that he made the comments when he was not in government and "people move on". He acknowledged that it would be a "long slog to rebuild understanding", but added that South Africa's relationship with the US was "fundamentally important" and he was determined to improve it. Jonas' comments are not surprising as the US is a major trading partner for South Africa. With Trump having threatened a 30% tariff on its goods, Ramaphosa cannot afford to see relations continuing to deteriorate and the economy taking further knocks. Is it checkmate for South Africa after Trump threats? What's really driving Trump's fury with South Africa? US cuts send South Africa's HIV treatment 'off a cliff' Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
16-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Elon Musk's Starlink and the racially charged row over operating in South Africa
The tussle between Starlink boss Elon Musk and South Africa over the company's failure to launch in the country stems from the nation's black empowerment laws, and could be one factor behind the diplomatic row between the US and Africa's most industrialised his more than 219 million followers on his social media platform X, Mr Musk made the racially charged claim that his satellite internet service provider was "not allowed to operate in South Africa simply because I'm not black". But the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) - a regulatory body in the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors - told the BBC that Starlink had never submitted an application for a for the foreign ministry, it said the company was welcome to operate in the country "provided there's compliance with local laws". So what are the legal sticking points? To operate in South Africa, Starlink needs to obtain network and service licences, which both require 30% ownership by historically disadvantaged groups. This mainly refers to South Africa's majority black population, which was shut out of the economy during the racist system of rule ended in 1994 after Nelson Mandela and his African National Congress (ANC) came to power. Since then, the ANC has made "black empowerment" a central pillar of its economic policy in an attempt to tackle the racial injustices of the past. This has included adopting legislation requiring investors to give local black firms a 30% stake in their businesses in South Musk - who was born in South Africa in 1971 before moving to Canada in the late 1980s and then to the US, where he became the world's richest man - appears to see this as the main stumbling block for Starlink to operate in the country. Starlink, in a written submission to Icasa, said the black empowerment provisions in legislation excluded "many" foreign satellite operators from the South African market, according to local news site TechCentral. But foreign ministry spokesperson Clayson Monyela challenged this view in March, saying on X that more than 600 US companies, including computing giant Microsoft, were operating in South Africa in compliance with its laws - and "thriving". Are there attempts to end the impasse? Mr Musk's Starlink has a potential ally in South Africa's Communications Minister Solly Malatsi. He comes from the Democratic Alliance (DA) - the second-biggest party in South Africa - which joined a coalition government after the ANC failed to get a parliamentary majority in last year's election. The DA is a fierce critic of the current black empowerment laws, claiming they have fuelled cronyism and corruption with investors forced to link up with ANC-connected companies to operate in South Africa or to win state contracts. Last October, Malatsi hinted that he was looking for a way to circumvent the 30% black equity requirement, saying he intended to issue a "policy direction" to Icasa with the aim of clarifying "the position on the recognition of equity equivalent programmes".In simple terms, Malatsi seemed to be suggesting that Starlink would not a require black business partner in South Africa, though it would have to invest in social programmes aimed at benefiting black people - especially the some six months later, Malatsi has failed to change the policy, with a spokesperson for his department telling the BBC that their legal team was still looking into the matter. It seems the communications minister may be facing political resistance from ANC lawmakers in parliament. Khusela Diko, the chairperson of the parliamentary communications committee to which Malatsi is accountable, warned him earlier this month that "transformation" in the tech sector was non-negotiable, appearing to oppose giving Mr Musk's Starlink any special said that "the law is clear on compliance" and, crucially added, that "cutting corners and circumvention is not an option - least of all to appease business interests". Diko's tough position comes as no surprise, as relations between the South African government and the US have hit rock bottom during US President Donald Tump's second term. Why have relations deteriorated? Mr Musk, part of Trump's inner circle, has railed on X against what he calls "racist ownership laws" in South Africa, while the US president has threatened to boycott the G20 summit of world leaders to be held in the country later this year. "How could we be expected to go to South Africa for the very important G20 Meeting when Land Confiscation and Genocide is the primary topic of conversation? They are taking the land of white Farmers, and then killing them and their families," Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social. His claims have been widely dismissed as false, but they echo those of the tech billionaire. Last month, Mr Musk accused "a major" political party in South Africa - a reference to the radical Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which came fourth in last year's election - of "actively promoting white genocide"."A month ago, the South African government passed a law legalizing taking property from white people at will with no payment," Mr Musk said."Where is the outrage? Why is there no coverage by the legacy media?South Africa did pass a law earlier this year allowing the government to seize property without compensation, but only in certain cases, while claims of a genocide against white farmers have been widely Musk links these issues to his failure to get a licence for Starlink."Starlink can't get a license to operate in South Africa simply because I'm not black." he asked back in hard-line stance comes despite meeting South Africa's president in New York last year. At the time, Mr Musk described the meeting as "great", while President Cyril Ramaphosa said he had tried to persuade the billionaire to invest in South Africa. "Meeting Elon Musk was a clear intention of mine... Some people call it bromance, so it's a whole process of rekindling his affection and connection with South Africa," Ramaphosa told South Africa's public broadcaster, he added that nothing had yet been "bedded down". "As it happens with potential investors, you have to court them; you have to be talking to them, and you've got to be demonstrating to them that there is a conducive environment for them to invest. So, we will see how this turns out," the president said."He is South African-born and South Africa is his home, and I would want to see him coming to South Africa for a visit, tour or whatever."But the "bromance" has long ended, with Mr Musk appearing to move closer to South Africa's right wing. Has Starlink had problems elsewhere in Africa? Lesotho appears to have bowed to pressure from the Trump administration by announcing on Monday that it had given a 10-year licence to Starlink. It comes after Trump imposed a 50% tariff on imports from Lesotho, threatening thousands of jobs in the subsequently paused that for 90 days, but a 10% tariff still came into effect on 5 reports suggest the Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) cleared regulatory hurdles to stave off the threat of a further tariff hike by granting Starlink a licence. However, this was denied by Foreign Minister Lejone Mpotjoane."The licence application and the tariff negotiations should not be conflated," he said. The decision to grant the licence was condemned by civil society group Section Two, which raised concern that Starlink Lesotho was 100% foreign-owned and lacked local ownership, South Africa's GroundUp news site reported."Such actions can only be described as a betrayal - a shameful sell-out by a government that appears increasingly willing to place foreign corporate interests above the democratic will and long-term developmental needs of the people of Lesotho," Section Two's co-ordinator Kananelo Boloetse was quoted as public consultations over Starlink's application, Vodacom Lesotho had also argued that Mr Musk's company should establish local shareholding before receiving a licence, the Space in Africa website reported. "These concerns highlight broader tensions surrounding Starlink's operations across Africa, particularly the growing demand for local partnerships," it also appears to be seeking an exemption in Namibia from the requirement to bring in a local is a former colony of Germany, and was under the rule of South Africa's white-minority regime until it gained independence in has more stringent requirements than its post-apartheid neighbour, with businesses operating in Namibia needing to be 51% locally Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) told the BBC that Starlink had submitted an application for a telecommunications service licence in June 2024. Cran said that while this process usually took between three to six months, a decision had not yet been taken because it "must first wait for the ownership exemption application to be finalised" by Namibia's information and communication technology minister. How big is Starlink's Africa presence? Starlink is now operating in more than 20 African countries, with Somalia, hit by an Islamist insurgency, giving it a 10-year licence on 13 April, two days before Lesotho's decision to do so."We welcome Starlink's entry to Somalia. This initiative aligns with our vision to deliver affordable and accessible internet services to all Somalis, regardless of where they live," Technology Minister Mohamed Adam Moalim Ali said. Starlink aims to provide high-speed internet services to remote or underserved areas, making it a potential game-changer for rural areas unable to access traditional forms of connectivity such as mobile broadband and is because Starlink, rather than relying on fibre optics or cables to transmit data, uses a network of satellites in low Earth orbit. Because they are closer to the ground, they have faster transmission speeds than traditional was the first African state to allow Starlink to operate, in 2023. The company has since grown into the second-biggest internet service provider in Africa's most-populous Starlink still has no presence in South Africa - the continent's most industrialised locals had found a way to connect to the service by using regional roaming packages purchased in countries where the service was put an end to this last year while Icasa also warned local companies that those found providing the service illegally could face a hefty with an estimated 20% of South Africans not having access to the internet at all - many in rural areas - it could prove beneficial for both Starlink and the government to reach a Starlink it could prove a lucrative market, while satellite broadband may help the government achieve its goal of providing universal internet access by Monday, Ramaphosa appointed former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas as his special envoy to the US, signalling his determination to mend relations with the Trump administration. But Jonas' appointment faced a backlash in right-wing circles, as in a 2020 speech he called Trump a "racist homophobe" and a "narcissistic right-winger".In an interview on the Money Show podcast, Jonas said that he made the comments when he was not in government and "people move on". He acknowledged that it would be a "long slog to rebuild understanding", but added that South Africa's relationship with the US was "fundamentally important" and he was determined to improve comments are not surprising as the US is a major trading partner for South Africa. With Trump having threatened a 30% tariff on its goods, Ramaphosa cannot afford to see relations continuing to deteriorate and the economy taking further knocks. You may also be interested in: Is it checkmate for South Africa after Trump threats?What's really driving Trump's fury with South Africa?US cuts send South Africa's HIV treatment 'off a cliff' Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
