Elon Musk has once again made headlines, this time for his criticism of South Africa’s Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) laws, accusing the South African government of discrimination against his company, Starlink, due to his race. The billionaire tech mogul took to X (formerly Twitter), calling the country’s refusal to grant Starlink a license to operate a “disgrace” to the legacy of Nelson Mandela. Musk’s comments, however, have drawn sharp criticism, especially given his own ties to South Africa’s apartheid-era history.
In his post, Musk claimed: “South Africa has now passed 142 laws forcing discrimination against anyone who is not black! Even though I was born in South Africa, the government will not grant @Starlink a license to operate simply because I am not black. This is a shameful disgrace to the legacy of the great Nelson Mandela who sought to have all races treated equally in South Africa.”
Musk appears to be referring to South Africa’s BEE policies, which require foreign companies to grant at least 30% of local ownership to historically disadvantaged groups, primarily Black South Africans. These measures were introduced as part of post-apartheid efforts to correct decades of systemic exclusion and economic marginalization of Black citizens.
Why has South Africa not granted Starlink a license?
While Musk has positioned himself as a victim of racial discrimination, his statement has drawn criticism, particularly from those who point out the irony of his stance. Born in Pretoria in 1971, Musk spent his early years under apartheid, a system that systematically oppressed South Africa’s Black majority in favor of the white minority. Critics argue that Musk, who benefited from this system, is now framing a post-apartheid reparative measure as an unjust policy.
Musk’s tweet claiming that South Africa has passed over 140 laws “discriminating” against non-Black citizens is being contested. Many argue that the BEE laws are designed to address the deep inequalities created by apartheid, allowing historically marginalized groups access to education, property ownership, and job opportunities that were previously denied. Musk’s criticism is seen by some as tone-deaf to the struggles faced by Black South Africans who continue to deal with the aftereffects of apartheid.
In particular, Musk’s invocation of Nelson Mandela’s name in this context has sparked outrage. Mandela spent 27 years in prison fighting the very system that once privileged Musk’s own community. For many, Musk’s comparison of BEE laws to the apartheid system is not only misleading but also offensive.
While Musk’s Starlink service has been licensed in most Southern African countries, including Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Malawi, Botswana, Zambia, and Mozambique, South Africa remains one of the few holdouts. This delay has fueled accusations of political motivations behind the licensing process. However, the South African government has repeatedly stated that the 30% local ownership requirement applies to all telecom companies, with no exceptions.
As the debate over BEE policies continues, Musk’s comments have reignited a larger conversation about economic redress and the complexities of race, privilege, and historical injustice in post-apartheid South Africa. Whether Musk’s opposition to the laws is rooted in genuine concerns about fairness or a strategic push to sidestep local ownership requirements, the debate reflects broader tensions about who has the right to claim oppression in a country still reckoning with its past.
” You all are racists”
Internet swiftly reacted to Musk’s tweet. A user said, “If there’s Genocide why do you wanna bring your Starlink business on a country that has genocide…..” Another asked, “White people are not under attack in South Africa! You’re just all racists!.” A user claimed, “Cry harder. If you want to operate in South Africa, comply with the law. No more apartheid privileges for white supremacists like you. Deal with it.” “Any type of racism is unacceptable,” noted another. “Don’t care. It’s not America. We have our own infrastructure, over spending, unlawful immigration and debt issues to focus on,” added a user.