{"id":55738,"date":"2026-04-11T17:25:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T17:25:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/?p=55738"},"modified":"2026-04-11T17:25:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T17:25:08","slug":"elon-musk-starlink-black-economic-empowerment-ict-sector-code-review-latest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/2026\/04\/11\/elon-musk-starlink-black-economic-empowerment-ict-sector-code-review-latest\/","title":{"rendered":"Starlink in sight? ICT&#8217;s BEE under review amid Elon Musk pressure"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The B-BBEE ICT Sector Council announced this week that the ICT Sector Code, gazetted in 2016, will come under full review. This follows growing pressure from Elon Musk\u2019s SpaceX to push back against black ownership regulations, such as Black Economic Empowerment, that have halted his plans to launch Starlink in South Africa.<\/p>\n<p>Musk has repeatedly claimed that his internet satellite service has faced hurdles in his country of birth under \u201cracist laws\u201d. However, political figures have argued that the world\u2019s richest man has unlawfully rejected transformative legislation.<\/p>\n<p>Starlink has yet to apply for an operating licence in South Africa.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ict-sector-code-under-full-review\">ICT SECTOR CODE UNDER FULL REVIEW<\/h2>\n<p>On Wednesday, the B-BBEE ICT Sector Council announced that a full review of the 2016 ICT Sector Code, which governs Black Economic Empowerment, was underway.<\/p>\n<p>The review serves to maintain relevance and effectiveness in advancing transformation within the sector.<\/p>\n<p>At the heart of the discussion is an updated framework governing Equity Equivalent Investment Programmes (EEIPs), which many have argued is a way around BEE in the ICT sector.<\/p>\n<p>The council has invited the public to submit written comments on the existing code by 20 May 2026.<\/p>\n<p>Under transformative laws such as Black Economic Empowerment, foreign investors like Starlink, which falls under SpaceX, must adhere to a\u00a0 30% local ownership regulation. The requirement has been labelled a \u201cracist law\u201d by Elon Musk, who has also accused his home country of practising a \u201cwhite genocide\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>EEIPs allow multinationals that reject local ownership to meet their empowerment obligations through investment in skills, enterprise development, or infrastructure. However, their existence in the ICT sector has been widely contested under Icasa\u2019s licensing rules.<\/p>\n<p>Starlink has offered to invest R500 million to help connect 5,000 rural schools to free, fast internet via EEIPs. This would be supported by solar power, software, and long-term monitoring, it claimed.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-thumbs-up-from-minister-accused-of-favouring-starlink\">THUMBS UP FROM MINISTER\u00a0ACCUSED OF \u2018FAVOURING\u2019 STARLINK<\/h3>\n<p>The implementation of EEIPs within the telecoms sector has been supported by Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi, who came under fire for an \u201cunlawful\u201d gazette in favour of a policy that appears to favour Starlink\u2019s operations in South Africa.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Malatsi was accused of paving the way for Musk to \u201cbypass\u201d Black Economic Empowerment through EEIPs.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"453\" alt=\"Starlink namibia elon musk\" class=\"wp-image-2455947\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Starlink-in-sight-ICTs-BEE-under-review-amid-Elon-Musk.jpg?resize=640%2C453&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Starlink-in-sight-ICTs-BEE-under-review-amid-Elon-Musk.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.thesouthafrican.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/African-countries-that-has-delayed-banned-or-blocked-Starlink-768x544.jpg.optimal.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thesouthafrican.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/African-countries-that-has-delayed-banned-or-blocked-Starlink-750x531.jpg.optimal.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.thesouthafrican.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/African-countries-that-has-delayed-banned-or-blocked-Starlink-960x680.jpg.optimal.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thesouthafrican.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/African-countries-that-has-delayed-banned-or-blocked-Starlink-640x453.jpg.optimal.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thesouthafrican.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/African-countries-that-has-delayed-banned-or-blocked-Starlink-255x181.jpg.optimal.jpg 255w\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Is Starlink on the cards for South Africa?<br \/>Images via X<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>According to the minister \u2013 who gazetted a final policy direction on EEIPs in the ICT sector earlier this year\u2013 the \u201cpurpose of this policy direction is to ensure that the full scope of economic empowerment is properly recognised and applied\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Without mentioning Starlink or Elon Musk, Malatsi claimed the department had \u201creceived over 19,000 submissions on the draft, with 90% supporting the policy direction for the regulatory clarity it provides and its potential to expand access to high-speed internet\u201d.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Malatsi added that the final policy direction \u201creinforces regulatory parity\u2026does not favour any entity, bypass the Electronic Communications Act, or weaken transformation\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Malatsi\u2019s move has been met by strong opposition from political parties like the EFF and Rise Mzansi, as well as Khusela Diko,\u00a0 the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, who have all cited Starlink as posing a threat to national security.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-starlink-addresses-bee-misconceptions\">STARLINK ADDRESSES BEE \u2018MISCONCEPTIONS\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>In recent months, Starlink, a subsidiary of Elon Musk\u2019s SpaceX, has ramped up its advocacy campaign to rally public support.<\/p>\n<p>On its website, Starlink claimed reports that it sought to bypass transformative legislation were a \u201cmyth\u201d, as were claims it wanted \u201cspecial treatment\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>It shared: \u201cStarlink is not requesting any exemption or preferential treatment.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cIt is asking ICASA to align its regulations with existing EEIP law in a way that applies equally to all international satellite operators and encourages competition and investment.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cNothing in the proposed regulatory alignment would favour Starlink or compel South Africans to use Starlink instead of another provider\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>It added: \u201cStarlink South Africa will comply with all local laws, pay applicable taxes and fees, and meet B-BBEE requirements like any other provider.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[It] will partner with local companies, large and small, to increase access and create employment opportunities\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n#Starlink #sight #ICTs #BEE #review #Elon #Musk #pressure<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The B-BBEE ICT Sector Council announced this week that the ICT Sector Code, gazetted in 2016, will come under full&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":55739,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-55738","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mzansi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55738","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55738"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55738\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55740,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55738\/revisions\/55740"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55739"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55738"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}