SpaceX Starlink has been stopped in South Africa because Elon Musk is white, and therefore, he said

Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, has been prevented from operating in South Africa, and Musk claims this is because of his race. He has stated on X that the South African government is not granting him permission because he is not “Black.”

However, according to reports, the actual reason is the Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policy. This policy requires that every company operating in South Africa must have at least 30% of its ownership held by Black individuals or other disadvantaged communities, a rule established after apartheid to provide economic opportunities to these groups. Starlink has refused to comply with this regulation, as Musk is unwilling to give up any part of his company to anyone.

Robert Hersov said that “there are 140 race-based laws in South Africa, all of which are against white people. He claims that these laws are slowly troubling white people, like a frog being boiled in water gradually. He thanks America and Donald Trump for noticing this problem, because he believes South Africa is heading toward a very bad situation, which he calls a ‘socialist abyss'”—meaning a state where everything is controlled by the government and people lose their freedom.

The issue here is more about the policy than Musk’s race, as the BEE requirement applies to all foreign companies. Some people support Musk, arguing that the policy is outdated and blocks new technology from entering the country, while many in South Africa believe it is still necessary to address historical inequalities. Currently, negotiations between Musk and the South African government are ongoing, but no solution has been found.

South Africa ka B-BBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment) policy

South Africa’s B-BBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment) policy is a government initiative launched in 2003 to address economic inequality following apartheid. Implemented through the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, it focuses on giving historically disadvantaged groups, particularly Black South Africans (Africans, Coloureds, and Indians), greater participation and control in the economy.

The goal is economic transformation, ensuring Black citizens have equal opportunities in business ownership, employment, skills training, and wealth creation. The policy uses a scorecard system to evaluate companies based on factors like ownership, management control, skills development, enterprise and supplier development, and socio-economic development. Companies are assigned ratings from Level 1 to 8, which are crucial for securing government contracts and private sector partnerships.

As of March 07, 2025, the policy remains active, with the government continuing to introduce updates.