Musk’s Starlink Faces Criticism Over South African Operations

Elon Musk claims Starlink cannot operate in South Africa due to his race, prompting criticism from South African officials. The country requires investors to allocate 30% of equity to disadvantaged groups. Officials indicate compliance with local laws is necessary for operation and stress that many U.S. companies are succeeding under these regulations.

Elon Musk recently expressed on his social media platform X that his Starlink satellite internet service is “not allowed to operate in South Africa because I’m not black.” This statement generated immediate backlash from users, including Clayson Monyela, South Africa’s head of public diplomacy, who countered that the statement was “not true” and unrelated to race.

South Africa has a policy that mandates incoming investors and businesses to allocate 30 percent of their operations to historically disadvantaged groups. Musk’s actions have often stirred political controversies, causing frustration among local leaders.

In response to Musk, Monyela emphasized that “Starlink is welcome to operate in South Africa, provided there’s compliance with local laws.” He highlighted that this adherence to regulations aligns with international trade principles, noting that over 600 U.S. companies successfully operate in the country while abiding by these requirements, including Microsoft’s recent investment announcement.

Musk is in pursuit of a license to operate Starlink’s low-Earth-orbit satellite broadband service in South Africa but is hesitant to meet the stipulation to allocate 30 percent of equity to the required demographics.

In summary, Elon Musk’s comments regarding Starlink’s operations in South Africa have sparked significant controversy and backlash, emphasizing the importance of compliance with local regulations. The country’s investment policy aims to promote equality among historically disadvantaged groups. Musk’s reluctance to adhere to these requirements has resulted in a public backlash, with South African officials affirming their commitment to lawful business practices.

Original Source: www.advanced-television.com