Elon Musk claimed Friday that Starlink, his satellite internet company, is unable to operate in South Africa because he is “not black.”
SpaceX, the satellite service’s parent company, is prohibited from entering the South African market due to the country’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) regulations, which are meant to “enhance the economic participation of black people in the South African economy.” Musk’s remark came in response to a clip featuring Robert Hersov, a South African entrepreneur, discussing anti-white racial policies imposed by the country’s government.
“Starlink is not allowed to operate in South Africa, because I’m not black,” Musk, who was also born in South Africa before immigrating to Canada and later the U.S., said in a post on X.
Clayson Monyela, head of public diplomacy at South Africa’s Department of International Relations, denied the claims in a response on X.
“Sir, that’s NOT true & you know it! It’s got nothing to do with your skin colour,” he said. “Starlink is welcome to operate in [South African flag emoji] provided there’s compliance with local laws. This is a global international trade & investment principle. There are over 600 USA companies investing & operating in #SouthAfrica…all complying & thriving! @Microsoft just announced additional investments yesterday.”
Sir, that’s NOT true & you know it! It’s got nothing to do with your skin colour. Starlink is welcome to operate in
provided there’s compliance with local laws. This is a global international trade & investment principle. There are over 600 USA companies investing & operating… https://t.co/ablSe8tnn3
— Clayson Monyela (@ClaysonMonyela) March 7, 2025
provided there’s compliance with local laws. This is a global international trade & investment principle. There are over 600 USA companies investing & operating… Under South Africa’s Electronic Communications Act (ECA) of 2005, which regulates companies building or operating telecommunications infrastructure in the country, firms cannot obtain an operating license unless they comply with a 30% minimum equity ownership requirement by “historically disadvantaged groups.”
SpaceX urged the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to reconsider its rules requiring 30% minority ownership, TechCentral reported in January.
The dispute comes amid rising tensions between South Africa and the United States. President Donald Trump announced Friday the U.S. will halt all federal funding to the country. Trump directly cited the African National Congress’ (ANC), South Africa’s ruling party, compulsory land seizures of property belonging to rural Boer farmers as a reason for the funding freeze.
“South Africa is being terrible, plus, to long time Farmers in the country. They are confiscating their LAND and FARMS, and MUCH WORSE THAN THAT. A bad place to be right now, and we are stopping all Federal Funding,” the president wrote.
Several white farmers in South Africa have been murdered in recent years, with the Transvaal Agricultural Union, a farmers’ union, estimating between 58 and 74 farmers were murdered between 2015 and 2017 in politically motivated attacks. Shaik Emam, a member of South Africa’s parliament, described the attacks as “not normal criminality” and “extremely violent and often accompanied by brutal torturing in the most barbaric way” in a 2017 debate.
The president also offered a “rapid pathway” to citizenship for South African farmers leaving the country. Musk announced a Starlink partnership with United Airlines, which was officially implemented in the airline’s systems Friday.
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