NO STARLINK LINK

THE Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has rubbished reports that the government will give preferential treatment to Elon Musk’s Starlink, in an effort to ease tensions with the United States.

It has been reported that the government is considering easing Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) requirements for satellite licences, as gazetted by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies last week, to allow Starlink to operate in South Africa.

The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies has summoned Minister Solly Malatsi and the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies to brief Parliament on the newly-issued policy directives.

But Ntshavheni says BEE is going nowhere. 

Speaking to broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, she said all multinational companies who venture into South Africa have to comply with the country’s laws - without exceptions.

Ntshavheni said: “I do not know where you get it, but I have said to you there was no discussion of Starlink, both at the Oval Office which was a very public meeting and also during the lunch that we have had. So I do not know where you get this notion that Starlink will come.

“If South Africa wants to introduce low orbit satellites into space, every other player will be allowed to come, but they must play within the rules of this country. 

“The rules of this country require transformation clauses as things stand. Anybody will come through the rules of this country, which are governed by our laws.”