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By Lawrence Agbo
Elon Musk has accused South Africa of racial discrimination, alleging that his satellite internet company, Starlink, is being denied an operating licence because he is “not black.”
In a series of posts on X on Sunday, the South Africa-born billionaire criticised his birth country’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment policies, which require telecom licence holders to have at least 30 per cent ownership by historically disadvantaged groups, including Black South Africans, women, and people with disabilities.
Musk claimed that Starlink has repeatedly faced barriers under the policy, alleging that the company was offered opportunities to bypass the rules through improper means, which he said he rejected.
He wrote, “South Africa won’t allow Starlink to be licensed, even though I was born there, simply because I am not black!
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“We were offered many times the opportunity to bribe our way to a license by pretending that a black guy runs Starlink SA, but I have refused to do so on principle.
“Racism should not be rewarded no matter to which race it is applied. Shame on the racist politicians in South Africa.
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“They should be shown no respect whatsoever anywhere in the world and shunned for being unashamedly racists!”
The dispute centres on licensing requirements enforced by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, which has not granted Starlink formal approval to operate in the country.
Starlink argues that South Africa’s telecom rules do not adequately recognise Equity Equivalent Investment Programmes, which allow companies to invest in infrastructure, skills, and community development instead of direct ownership transfers.
South African officials have consistently rejected Musk’s allegations of racism, insisting that the issue is compliance with national laws rather than race.
“Sir, that’s not true and you know it! It’s got nothing to do with your skin colour. Starlink is welcome to operate in South Africa provided there’s compliance with local laws.
“This is a global international trade and investment principle. There are over 600 USA companies investing and operating in #SouthAfrica…all complying and thriving! @Microsoft just announced additional investments yesterday,” South Africa’s Head of Public Diplomacy, Clayson Monyela, said in March 2025, when Musk initially raised the allegation.
The government has maintained that Starlink has not submitted a complete application that satisfies existing regulatory requirements, noting that hundreds of other foreign companies, including major US firms, operate successfully under the same framework.
