EFF says Elon Musk's Starlink cannot be exempted from SA's BEE laws

JOHANNESBURG - The Economic Freedom Fighter said that Elon Musk’s satellite company, Starlink, cannot be exempted from the country’s black economic empowerment (BEE) laws.
  
US-based company Space X, which owns Starlink, recently wrote to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) requesting it to "rethink" its licensing rules for foreign-based companies.

For any satellite network company to receive a license to operate in South Africa, ICASA requires that at least 30 percent of it be owned by historically disadvantaged groups in line with the country’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) policy.

Speaking at a media briefing on Monday, EFF leader Julius Malema said the South-African born billionaire could not be given special privileges.

READ: Elon Musk's Starlink must comply with local BEE laws, says Parly comms committee
  
"BEE, Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment its a policy that should be implemented whether there is Elon Musk involved or not - it must not be a policy for certain people and a policy for other people. Whatever Elon Musk wants to come and do here, they must make sure there is participation of the previously disadvantaged people. Black people must participate in that transaction."

ICASA will this week hold public hearings in Centurion on its new proposed licensing framework for satellite services.

Representatives from Space X and Meta have been scheduled to make representations.