Latest news with #SA-born
The South African
4 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Sons of All Blacks legend wants to play for the Springboks
Talk about irony. He is one of the greatest All Blacks players of all time. Now, his son wants to be a Bok. All Blacks legend Sonny Bill Williams' sons want to play for the Springboks. He met his wife in South Africa and views Cape Town as his second home. Now, both his boys are aspiring to play for the Boks in the future. Former New Zealand rugby centre, Williams hinted at his boys playing for the Springboks in the future. 'Maybe one day my two boys might be playing in Green and Gold,' Williams told Ruck. Additionally, both of his boys have told Williams that they want to play for the Boks in the future. 'They've told me that's what they'd like,' he said 'They love the Springboks,' he added. Firstly, this SA-born star is in line to play for the All Blacks. More recently, a top New Zealand international expressed interest in playing for the Springboks in the future. Then, as mentioned, Williams' boys have visions to play for the Springboks. Growing up in South Africa, it was unheard of and a sacred unspoken rule to never mention wanting to play for the age-old mighty rivals, the All Blacks. Likewise, a young boy in New Zealand shant dare speak of playing for the Boks. However, times have changed and we could very well see SA-born All Blacks (sooner than you think) and NZ-born Springboks in the near future. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
23-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Lesotho gets Musks Starlink as service continues to evade SA
Lesotho is the 23rd African country to be licensed for South African born Elon Musk's Starlink service. Lesotho, a landlocked country surrounded entirely by South Africa, has officially welcomed Starlink. The Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) granted SpaceX's satellite internet service a 10-year operating license on April 14, 2025, following a year-long regulatory review process. Starlink in Lesotho 'Starlink now available in Lesotho!' SA-born Starlink boss Elon Musk said in a post on his platform X. Lesotho is the 23rd African country to be licensed for the service. Others on the continent include Nigeria, Malawi, Zambia, Eswatini, Botswana, and Ghana. Starlink now available in Lesotho! — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 22, 2025 ALSO READ: Bad news for illegal Starlink users in SA South Africa Starlink is not available in South Africa. Talks on launching Starlink in the country stalled earlier after Musk and US President Donald Trump ramped up public rhetoric against policies such as BEE laws, which mandate that foreign-owned telecoms companies allocate at least 30% of local equity to historically disadvantaged groups, primarily black South Africans. Musk claimed Starlink was barred from operating in South Africa because he is not black, an allegation South African officials refuted. Policy direction In May, Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi published a policy direction to provide alternatives to pave the way for the Starlink satellite internet service in the country. Malatsi issued the directive two days after President Cyril Ramaphosa met Trump in Washington to 'reset' strained relations following false claims of 'white genocide' and attacks against Afrikaner farmers in South Africa, a statement also made by Musk, who attended last week's meeting in the White House's Oval Office. ALSO READ: Malatsi gazettes policy direction to possibly allow Musk to operate Starlink in SA [VIDEO] Parliament However, Communications portfolio committee chairperson Khusela Diko summoned Malatsi to a briefing on the recently published policy directive. Malatsi and the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies officials presented on how the proposed regulation was formulated, stating that one of the main objectives was to create an environment where competition could thrive. 'It is the lack of competition in the market that appears to be the greatest impediment to lower prices for consumers'. Work around South Africans have found ways around the current Starlink restrictions by registering the kit and services in other nearby nations that allow the service and then using the roaming option to access it in their home country. The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA)'s chairperson, Mothibi Ramusi, said they have instituted an investigation into the matter. With its wide coverage and increasing affordability, Starlink presents a chance to close the connectivity gap in rural areas while also appealing to urban users. Starlink operates thousands of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites to provide high-speed internet globally. ALSO READ: WATCH: Starlink not debated with Trump, Ramaphosa says
IOL News
05-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
'Very disappointed' Trump in stunning live break-up with Musk
The budding bromance between US President Donald Trump and SA-born billionaire Elon Musk is over Image: Graphic/Se-Anne Rall Tensions between Donald Trump and Elon Musk exploded into public view Thursday, as the US president said he was "very disappointed" by his billionaire former aide's criticisms and Musk hit back in real time on social media. "Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will anymore," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office after Musk slammed his tax and spending mega-bill as an "abomination". The world's richest man responded by live-tweeting on his X social media platform as Trump spoke on television, saying that the Republican would not have won the 2024 election without him and slamming him for "ingratitude." In an extraordinary rant as visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sat mutely beside him, 78-year-old Trump unloaded on SpaceX and Tesla boss Musk in his first comments on the issue. "I'm very disappointed, because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody sitting here... All of a sudden, he had a problem," Trump said when asked about Musk. The clash comes less than a week since Trump held a grand Oval Office farewell for Musk as he wrapped up his time leading the cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). South African-born Musk, 53, hit back minutes later, saying Trump's claims he had advance sight of the bill were "false." "Whatever," he added above a video of Trump saying Musk was upset about the loss of subsidies for electric vehicles. Musk then ratcheted up the public spat even further, saying the Republican would have lost the election without his support. He was the biggest donor to Trump's campaign, to the tune of nearly $300 million. "Without me, Trump would have lost the election," Musk said on X. "Such ingratitude." Tesla shares fell sharply on Wall Street, down eight percent, after his comments, in a sign of the huge stakes for a falling out between the world's richest man and its most powerful. The former besties are having a go at each other on social media Image: Elon Musk/X A little make-up? A wistful-sounding Trump took reporters through the break-up with Musk on live television, in what at times sounded more like a therapy session than a meeting with a foreign leader. Trump talked about Musk's farewell appearance in the Oval Office on Friday, when he turned up with a black eye that he said was caused by a punch from his son. Musk at the time was also facing reports of drug use on the Trump campaign trail. "You saw a man who was very happy when he stood behind the Oval desk, and even with the black eye. I said, you want a little makeup? We'll get you a little makeup," Trump said. "But he said, 'No, I don't think so,' which is interesting and very nice. He wants to be who he is." Trump said he could understand why Musk was upset with some steps he had taken, including withdrawing a nominee to lead the NASA space agency whom the tech tycoon had backed. Through it all, the visiting German chancellor sat silently. Merz had prepared to avoid a repeat of the ambushes that Trump unleashed on the Ukrainian and South African presidents in the Oval Office -- but in the end it was Musk that the US president ambushed. At the center of the bitter row is Trump's "big, beautiful bill" on tax and spending. The centerpiece of his domestic agenda, it aims to continue tax cuts from his first term -- and could define his second term and make or break Republican prospects in the 2026 midterm elections. Musk however called it a "disgusting abomination" on Tuesday, on the grounds that it will increase the US deficit. A day later, the magnate called for Republicans to "kill the bill," and for an alternative plan that "doesn't massively grow the deficit."
The Citizen
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Elon Musk could shake up SA's government
Elon Musk's departure from US politics may offer South Africa a shot at reform if he returns with his disruptive energy and ideas. Elon Musk looks on as US President Donald Trump meets with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) The bromance between Donald Trump and tech mega-billionaire Elon Musk hit the rocks this week, when Musk left his job as head of the department of government expenditure (Doge), accusing the US president of increasing the country's deficit rather than reducing it as he promised. Musk has a point about Trump's 'One Big, Beautiful Bill Act' – which offers sprawling tax relief and spending cuts and is the centrepiece of his domestic agenda. But, according to AFP, critics warn it will decimate health care and balloon the national deficit by as much as $4 trillion (about R71.5 trillion) over a decade. ALSO READ: Elon Musk unceremoniously steps down from Trump administration However, there's no doubt the SA-born oligarch underestimated the global backlash which followed his commitment to Trump and then with his wild moves at Doge and what looked suspiciously like a Nazi salute at a public rally. Sales of his Tesla electric vehicles have gone flat across the globe as buyers baulked at the anti-green, fascist-leaning actions of the new regime in Washington. Musk will, no doubt, bounce back from this ill-considered foray into right-wing politics. But, if you are at a loose end, Elon, come home for a while, set up Starlink (if the ANC lets you) and take your chainsaw to our bloated government.
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
In the gloom, two South Africans bring global glory
Despite the gloom, Marlene Dumas and Rayno Nel have proven that South Africans can still conquer global stages in art and sport. South African artist and painter, Marlene Dumas and Rayno Nel in action during the World's Strongest Man competition in Sacramento, California. Pictures: Instagram and Robyn Beck/AFP Amid the weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth which seems to be present-day South Africa, it is good to know that our supposedly traumatised country can still produce world-beaters. There were two of them this week who rose to the highest heights in their respective fields. SA-born Artist Marlene Dumas set a global auction record for the most expensive painting sold by a living female artist. This after her 1997 painting Miss January sold for a staggering $13.7 million (more than R245 million) at Christie's 21st Century Evening Sale auction in the United States. Fair enough, Dumas, 72, has lived in Amsterdam since 1976… but we'll still call her ours. ALSO READ: SA-born artist Marlene Dumas breaks global record with over R245 million painting sale [PICS] Someone who hasn't left and has his feet still solidly on local ground is newly crowned strongman world champion Rayno Nel, a former Cheetahs rugby player who has won the World's Strongest Man championship in California. He was the first athlete from Africa to take the title in the 48-year history of the event. The achievement was even more notable because Nel only took up the strongman sport two years ago, after retiring from rugby and then focusing on his career as an electrical engineer. Fly, the Beloved Country… ALSO READ: Rayno Nel eager to keep improving after winning strongman world title
