South Africa’s digital minister has firmly rejected giving Elon Musk’s Starlink or any foreign tech company special regulatory shortcuts, insisting they must “play by the same rules” as local companies. This stance emphasizes the government’s commitment to its Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policies, which require corporate Black ownership and investment in companies operating in the country. While acknowledging that the current multilayered licensing system is a bottleneck hindering connectivity, Malatsi believes reform cannot come at the cost of perceived preferential treatment. The minister faces a delicate balancing act: attracting the foreign investment needed to bridge the digital divide for millions of citizens, while upholding the nation’s core economic transformation principles. This decision places South Africa at a critical juncture, as it must compete with other African nations offering more flexible regimes to global tech investors.
SEMAFOR
