SA president Cyril Ramaphosa ‘rejects’ Elon Musk’s Starlink, based on his ‘racist views’: South Africans react.

Right or wrong move? President Cyril Ramaphosa has paused talks to bring Elon Musk’s Starlink to SA, based on his ‘racist views’.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has seemingly rejected Elon Musk’s bid to bring Starlink – his satellite internet services – to South Africa. And many citizens have had extreme reactions to it.

The president’s halt comes amid Elon’s questioning of “openly racist laws” in his home country. He is likely referring to the Expropriation Act as well as Black Economic Equity (BEE), which requires his company to have 30% black ownership.

RAMAPHOSA REJECTS STARLINK – HERE’S WHY.

Speaking to Bloomberg, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said Starlink’s proposal to SA – via their parent company SpaceX – was possibly off the table.

This amid tensions between Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump towards the SA government., particularly President Ramaphosa.

In recent weeks, Trump and the world’s richest man have questioned and criticised SA for “racial discrimination” against white South Africans.

Magwenya said: “If a leading business figure like Elon Musk harbours the kind of unprogressive, racist views that we’ve witnessed and the peddling of lies that we’ve been confronted with, then we’re not going to pursue having his investments.”

Last year, Elon met with President Ramaphosa to discuss establishing a license in his birth country for the operation of Starlink, the world’s first and largest satellite constellation. As a leading satellite internet provider, it offers high-speed internet.

However, Starlink withdrew its presentation during ICASA’s regulatory hearings for international satellite operators earlier this month.

This follows SpaceX’s written submission to the regulatory body to “rethink” its BEE legislature. The requirement states that the company to acquire a 30% local shareholding by “historically disadvantaged” groups. According to SpaceX, the requirement would drive away foreign investors, who have global policies that prevent local shareholding.

RIGHT OR WRONG MOVE – SOUTH AFRICANS RESPOND.

On social media, SA’s move towards possibly halting Elon Musk’s plans for Starlink’s operation in the country was met with mixed reactions.

Some believed it was the wrong move.

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