Elon Musk, the chief executive of Tesla, has said that his satellite internet service, Starlink, is still not allowed to operate in South Africa.
Speaking online, Musk said Starlink has not received the licence it needs to begin work in the country. He claimed that one of the reasons is linked to his race. Musk, who was born in South Africa, said the rules are unfair to him because he is not Black.
The issue is tied to South Africa’s business laws. The country has policies that require companies, especially foreign ones, to meet certain ownership rules before they can operate in key sectors like telecommunications. These rules are part of a system known as Black Economic Empowerment. It was created to correct the deep inequality left behind by apartheid, when most Black South Africans were excluded from owning businesses or taking part in the economy.
Under these rules, companies may need to include Black South Africans in ownership or leadership roles. Musk said that Starlink was told it could move forward if it followed such requirements. He said this could include giving a share of the business to Black investors or placing a Black partner in a leading position.
Musk said he does not agree with this approach. He argued that business decisions should not be based on race. Because of this, Starlink has not yet met the conditions needed to get approval.
The South African government has not fully accepted Musk’s claims. Officials have pointed out that the rules apply to all companies, not just his. They say the goal is to make sure more people benefit from business opportunities in the country.
This disagreement has drawn attention online. Some people agree with Musk and say the rules make it harder for companies to invest. Others support the government’s position and say the policies are needed to fix past injustice.
For now, Starlink is still not operating in South Africa, and there is no clear timeline for when that might change.
