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The Star
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Julius Malema rejects Starlink policy shift, blasts government for bowing to US pressure
Simon Majadibodu | Published 9 hours ago EFF leader Julius Malema gave the proposed policy the proverbial middle finger as he reiterated his party's stance on the easing of B-BBEE requirements for satellite licenses to allow Elon Musk's Starlink to operate in South Africa. Speaking to supporters in Koppies, Free State, ahead of next week's by-election, Malema criticised the government's draft policy, which would ease B-BBEE rules for multinational companies. He said the move came shortly after remarks were made in the White House about Starlink being blocked from entering the South African market. The meeting took place between President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump, aimed at mending strained diplomatic relations. The proposal which has been strongly opposed by political parties was made by Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, a member of the Democratic Alliance (DA) gazetted the policy direction on the role of investment programmes (EElPs) in the ICT sector, saying they are tools to accelerate broadband access. Malema questioned the motive behind the policy shift, suggesting it was influenced by foreign pressure. 'Today, a tender is given in White House without advertisement, where (Johann) Rupert stands up and says, why is Elon Musk's Starlink not given an opportunity in South Africa? Elon Musk's business cannot come to South Africa if it is not complied with 30% BEE,' he said. He accused the government of undermining transformation policies to accommodate international corporations. 'The following day, they issued out that they want to relax their BEE deals so that this Starlink can come into South Africa.' 'There is no such a law in South Africa. That Starlink will not come into South Africa if it is not complied with the BEE,' the red berets leader said. He emphasised that the 30% ownership should be distributed among Black South Africans, not concentrated in the hands of a single individual. 'That 30% must go to black people, as many as possible, because we want to benefit from our own economy. Comrades, we must never be dictated to by business,' he said. On Friday, IOL News reported that regulatory easing came less than two days after a high-level meeting at the White House, allegedly facilitated by South African billionaire Johann Rupert. The meeting was reportedly attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump. Rupert urged the fast-tracking of Starlink's entry into South Africa, citing crime, economic stagnation, and the need for technological advancement. 'We need Starlink in South Africa,' Rupert said. Meanwhile, the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies summoned Minister Solly Malatsi to brief Parliament on the newly issued policy directives aimed at easing Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) requirements for licensing satellite services, including Elon Musk's Starlink. 'The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies has invited Minister Solly Malatsi and the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies to appear before the committee and brief on the recently gazetted policy directions,' Committee Chairperson Khusela Diko said. Diko said that the recently 'gazetted policy directions appear to be in contravention of the Electronic Communications Act and in favour of low earth orbit satellite provider SpaceX.' [email protected] IOL Politics
IOL News
24-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
ANC denies easing B-BBEE rules to benefit Elon Musk, denounces Trump's ‘white genocide' as a comedy
ANC first deputy secretary general Nomvula Mokonyane has rejected suggestions that B-BBEE reforms aim to ease Starlink's entry into South Africa. Image: File The meeting, which was attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Trump, involved Rupert urging officials to fast-track Starlink's launch, citing economic stagnation and rising crime. 'We need Starlink in South Africa,' Rupert said, emphasising the importance of technological advancement for the country's future. Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, a member of the Democratic Alliance (DA), gazetted the policy direction on the role of investment programmes (EElPs) in the ICT sector, saying they are tools to accelerate broadband access. Mokonyane emphasised that the meeting was intended to mend strained relations between the two countries and had achieved its goal. 'We emphasised continuously that we believe in proper diplomatic communication, and this has happened." According to her, Ramaphosa was invited by Trump, and the two leaders engaged in discussions alongside their respective delegates. 'And of importance, the President was not chased away, the President didn't walk away," Mokonyane said. "He, together with the delegation, affirmed the issues that even President Trump himself was misleading the world about because it was totally disinformation, actually the showing off of pictures and information that has got nothing to do with South Africa, that has got nothing to do with redress, that has got nothing to do with racism." She described the closed-door talks as productive, adding that discussions around Trump's participation in the upcoming G20 are ongoing and that Minister of Trade and Industry Parks Tau is continuing related negotiations. Mokonyane has also vehemently rejected Trump's repeated claims of 'white genocide' in South Africa. 'And of importance, the issues about the notion of genocide. Whether it's genocide, we've got the courts of the world, that those matters must actually be filed. But we now know it was just a comedy, nothing that has to do with South Africa, nothing that has to do with white farmers in South Africa.' This comes after Trump ambushed Ramaphosa during a tense exchange with a series of contested claims about the killings of white farmers in South Africa, referring to it as white genocide. Trump asked for a montage of video clips to be played, which showed Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) president Julius Malema chanting 'Kill the Boer' and footage that showed rows of crosses, which Trump said were the graves of white people. "People are fleeing South Africa for their own safety. Their land is being confiscated, and in many cases, they're being killed," Trump said. Responding to the footage, Ramaphosa asked Trump if he knew this was, saying he had never seen it before. Trump insisted it was in South Africa. Meanwhile, when asked if ANC officials had received feedback from the US visit suggesting Musk was involved in the discussions, Mokonyane dismissed the idea. 'We have the privilege of having the President, who is the President of the ANC, and the Minister of International Relations, who actually acted like a diplomat, who has also confirmed that what happened in closed doors had nothing to do with Elon Musk, had nothing to do with Starlink. In fact, it was never a matter in those deliberations,' she said. Mokonyane also rejected speculation that the recent policy direction was aimed at helping Musk secure a license. 'South Africa cannot create laws specifically for Elon Musk. We know that even with the World Cup, the amendment of the legal framework had to do with what is good for South Africa,' she said. She added that Parliament must now play its role. 'We should actually allow a situation where the Portfolio Committee, as it has committed, must actually summon the Minister and let the Minister come and account and explain himself. Because there is also a misunderstanding of what his powers are,' Mokonyane added. The EFF, uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party), including the ANC Youth League have rrejected a gazetted policy proposal to ease Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) requirements for the licensing of satellite communication services, such as Musk's Starlink. [email protected] IOL Politics Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
IOL News
24-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
EFF and MK Party slams policy easing for Starlink as ‘backdoor for foreign monopolies'
Opposition parties have rejected the B-BBEE policy exemption for Elon Musk's Starlink, calling it a "backdoor for foreign monopolies." Image: X A gazetted policy proposal to ease Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) requirements for the licensing of satellite communication services, such as Elon Musk's Starlink, was a "backdoor for foreign monopolies", political parties said. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) rejected the proposed ease of B-BBEE requirements. The EFF said it provided a 'backdoor for foreign multinationals' like Starlink to bypass South Africa's B-BBEE laws through the so-called "Equity Equivalent Investment Programmes" (EElPs). 'The EFF expected this betrayal, and we have consistently warned that the Government of National Unity (GNU) is facilitating the erosion of transformation in the interests of white capital and Western imperialism,' the party said in a statement. The party further claimed the policy was unconstitutional and driven by external pressure, particularly from South African-born millionaire Musk, whom they described as a close ally of United States President Donald Trump. The controversy comes amid ongoing tension between EFF leader Julius Malema and Trump over the latter's repeated criticism of South Africa, including claims related to the controversial 'Kill the Boer' chant. Meanwhile, former president Jacob Zuma-led MK Party also denounced the policy. The party's national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela called the policy a 'treacherous blueprint' aimed at dismantling state capacity and enabling backdoor deals with foreign tech oligarchs. 'This gazette is not mere bureaucracy,' the party's national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said. 'It is the execution phase of a covert pact brokered by Ramaphosa, [Democratic Alliance leader John] Steenhuisen and their neoliberal mentor Donald Trump, to subvert the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Charter and neutralise Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) imperatives in favour of unaccountable global capital.' Musk has previously criticised South Africa's affirmative action laws, arguing they hinder business development. He has claimed Starlink was denied a license to operate in South Africa because 'he was not Black'. However, the EFF said the African National Congress (ANC) and government have "kneeled" to pressure after Musk refused to comply with the country's laws. 'This policy is tailor-made to allow Starlink access to operate in South Africa without meeting the mandatory 30% local ownership requirement as per the Electronic Communications Act. Musk has arrogantly refused to comply with our sovereign laws, and the ANC-led government has chosen to kneel,' the EFF said. 'This policy is clearly a capitulation in the face of an aggressive disinformation campaign of white genocide perpetuated by Musk. Musk, through Starlink, is now essentially being rewarded after a pure case of corporate terror that undermines our sovereignty and necessary transformation policies.' On Friday, IOL News reported that less than two days after a tense White House meeting allegedly facilitated by South African billionaire Johann Rupert, Starlink appears to be facing new regulatory easing in South Africa. The meeting, which was attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Trump, involved Rupert urging officials to fast-track Starlink's launch, citing economic stagnation and rising crime. 'We need Starlink in South Africa,' Rupert said, emphasising the importance of technological advancement for the country's future. Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi gazetted the policy direction on the role of investment programmes (EElPs) in the ICT sector, saying they are tools to accelerate broadband access. Ndhlela rejected Malatsi's claim of "stakeholder consultation,' calling it a 'smoke-and-mirrors tactic.' 'The MK Party demands immediate and full public disclosure of these so-called stakeholders. Who was consulted? Were black-owned SMMEs, community networks and transformation champions even in the room, or was this a closed-door session for foreign monopolies and their local proxies? he added.
