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Elon Musk accuses South Africa of racism over Starlink license denial

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and owner of X, criticized the South African government, alleging that Starlink is being denied an operating license because he is not Black. Musk, who was born in South Africa, referenced regulatory hurdles related to the country's Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment policies, which he claims require telecommunications licensees to have at least 30 percent ownership by historically disadvantaged groups. He stated that he refused opportunities to secure a license through bribery by pretending a Black individual ran Starlink SA. Musk called out "racist politicians in South Africa" and said they should be shunned. The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa enforces these licensing requirements. Starlink has not formally received a license and argues that current telecom regulations do not fully recognize Equity Equivalent Investment Programs as alternatives to direct ownership. South African officials have previously dismissed claims of racism, citing other foreign investors operating in the country and stating that Starlink has not submitted a complete formal application compliant with existing rules. In March 2025, South Africa's Head of Public Diplomacy, Clayson Monyela, denied Musk's allegations, stating that Starlink is welcome to operate if it complies with local laws, and highlighted that over 600 US companies operate successfully in South Africa by complying with regulations.