Elon Musk South Africa Starlink. Elon Musk speaks in the Oval Office of the White House on February 11, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Elon Musk said his company Starlink is not allowed to operate in South Africa because he is white in a social media post on Friday.
Newsweek reached out to South Africa's Department of Trade, Industry and Competition for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Musk, who remains an influential figure in the President Donald Trump's administration, has been a frequent critic of his home country South Africa. Trump has also been critical of the South African government, issuing an executive order last month promoting the resettlement of white South Africans to the U.S.
Conservatives have raised concerns abou some policies in South Africa they believe promote anti-white racism. Proponents of these policies, however, say they are intended to achieve greater racial equality in a post-Apartheid society.
What to Know
Musk, in a post to X, formerly Twitter, wrote that "Starlink is not allowed to operate in South Africa, because I'm not black," while promoting a video with South African businessman Robert Hersov discusses race-based laws in the country on The Rubin Report.
Musk appeared to be referring to South Africa's Black Economic Empowerment policy, which requires foreign-owned telecommunications licensees to sell 30 percent of their equity to historically disadvantaged groups, Reuters reported.
His comment received pushback from Clayson Monyela, who said Starlink may operate in South Africa so long as it complies with local laws, adding that Musk's race is irrelevant to why it cannot have operations in the nation.
"Sir, that's NOT true & 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 & investment principle. There are over 600 USA companies investing & operating in #SouthAfrica...all complying & thriving!" he wrote.
The Black Economic Empowerment policy was formally launched in 2003 with the goal of addressing racial inequality caused by decades of Apartheid, which only ended less than a decade earlier in 1994.
Starlink operates in several African countries including South Africa's neighbors of Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Eswatini, according to the company's coverage maps. The map indicates it plans to resume operations in Namibia, where it has faced licensing disputes, in 2025.
Since his return to the White House in January, Trump has been critical of the South African government's policies pertaining to race.
Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier on Friday that his administration is ending federal funds to South Africa.
"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. To go a step further, any Farmer (with family!) from South Africa, seeking to flee that country for reasons of safety, will be invited into the United States of America with a rapid pathway to Citizenship. This process will begin immediately!" Trump wrote."
What People Are Saying
Journalist Hopewell Chin'ono on X: "Starlink cannot operate in South Africa due to a regulatory requirement that telecom companies must have 30% ownership by 'historically disadvantaged groups' (HDGs) as part of the country's Black Economic Empowerment policy. This is meant to redress four centuries of racist colonial rule against black people!"
Internet personality Mario Nawfal on X: "SpaceX says Starlink's satellites cover every square kilometer of Africa, yet South Africa chose politics over innovation, connectivity, and economic growth."
What Happens Next
Musk and Trump will likely continue their criticisms of the South African government.
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This story was originally published March 7, 2025 at 1:39 PM.