Elon Musk was born in South Africa in 1971 and moved to Canada in the late 1980s. In every practical sense, he is South African.
However, these days, he has very unsavoury things to say about his country of birth, particularly criticising its political climate and regulatory challenges that he believes hinder innovation and investment.
Let Starlink into South Africa
Elon Musk, the CEO of Starlink and the richest man in the world, and South Africa are currently at loggerheads due to the company’s inability to launch his satellite internet services within the country because of South Africa’s Black empowerment legislation. 
Elon told his 219 million followers on X that Starlink was not permitted to operate in South Africa due to his race, claiming it was “simply because I’m not Black.”
However, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) clarified that Starlink has never applied for the necessary licences to operate in the country.
The South African foreign ministry also stated that the company could operate legally as long as it adhered to local laws. A vital requirement for foreign companies wishing to operate in South Africa, including obtaining network and service licences, is that 30% ownership is held by historically disadvantaged groups, predominantly the Black majority that was marginalised under apartheid until its end in 1994 under Nelson Mandela’s leadership. This legislation is called the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act.
The ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), instituted black empowerment as an important part of its economic policy because of past racial injustices. It balances injustices through legislation that forces foreign investors to ensure local Black companies have a significant stake in business ventures within the country.
Musk’s contention is that such ownership mandates pose an entry barrier for Starlink and similar foreign companies. In a submission to Icasa, Starlink expressed that these empowerment policies exclude many foreign satellite operators from the South African market.
However, this perspective was countered by foreign ministry spokesperson Clayson Monyela, who retorted that over 600 US companies, including major tech firms like Microsoft, successfully operate in South Africa while complying with its laws.
ALSO READ: Elon Musk: Meet the 4 Baby Mamas & 14 Kids of the Richest Man in the World
Don’t take white farmers’ land
The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, has also criticised South African land laws, calling their ownership “racist” and accusing the government of inadequate measures against what he describes as a “genocide” against white farmers.
According to South African government data as of 2022, white people constitute around 7% of South Africa’s population, yet they own about 75% of the country’s land, a remnant of apartheid.
Additionally, white workers earn nearly three times more than Black workers, according to World Bank data.
Recently, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa‘s government passed the Expropriation Act, allowing land expropriation without compensation under specific conditions, which has reignited the debate on land reform amidst the historical context of land dispossession from the Black majority.
SEE ALSO: Namibia Is Rejecting Elon Musk’s Starlink: What Could Be The Reason?
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