South Africa courts Starlink; Musk says no
The South African government appears to be offering Starlink some concessions in order to get it approved in that country, but it also appears that Elon Musk is not interested in the deal, because it would still require the company to impose racial quotas on hiring and ownership that he not only considers immoral, but are illegal by U.S. law.
In an interview at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, Musk did not confirm whether a deal had been made with South Africa, as suggested in the reports. However, he maintains that Starlink’s failure to secure a license is attributed to his not being black.
“First of all, you should be questioning why there are racist laws in South Africa; that’s the problem. That’s the issue you should be attacking. The whole idea with Nelson Mandela, he was a great man, was that all races should be on equal footing in South Africa, that’s the right thing to do, not to replace one set of racist laws with another set of racist laws.”
“I was born in South Africa but can’t get a licence to operate in Starlink because I’m not black,” Musk said.
The first link notes that South Africa requires a 30% ownership by “historically disadvantaged groups, primarily Black South Africans,” a racist quota that Musk is likely to reject whole-heartedly.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
The South African government appears to be offering Starlink some concessions in order to get it approved in that country, but it also appears that Elon Musk is not interested in the deal, because it would still require the company to impose racial quotas on hiring and ownership that he not only considers immoral, but are illegal by U.S. law.
In an interview at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, Musk did not confirm whether a deal had been made with South Africa, as suggested in the reports. However, he maintains that Starlink’s failure to secure a license is attributed to his not being black.
“First of all, you should be questioning why there are racist laws in South Africa; that’s the problem. That’s the issue you should be attacking. The whole idea with Nelson Mandela, he was a great man, was that all races should be on equal footing in South Africa, that’s the right thing to do, not to replace one set of racist laws with another set of racist laws.”
“I was born in South Africa but can’t get a licence to operate in Starlink because I’m not black,” Musk said.
The first link notes that South Africa requires a 30% ownership by “historically disadvantaged groups, primarily Black South Africans,” a racist quota that Musk is likely to reject whole-heartedly.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Very topical; the whole ‘30%’ “BBEE” [black-based economic empowerment”] thing is very devious. It includes Farms, the govt takes farmland and ostensibly transfers it to BBEE “participant’s” but the govt. keeps the Deed.
Patrick Bet-David Show (May 21, 2025)
“South Africa’s Economic Genocide”
Entrepreneur Rob Hersov Slams Corrupt Gov’t, Zuma & Racist Laws
https://youtu.be/utKI7Edg1kQ
1:35:39
“South African billionaire Robert Hersov joins Patrick Bet-David to expose the corruption destroying his country.”
Good for Elon.
SA is now upset that black farmers are leaving.
Why would a farmer leave? Because the other people around them steel their crops, the government fixes their sale prices, the government owns the land. Now why would a good honest farmer stay?
30% for “reparations”? Now if some black BILLIONAIRES came forward with some cash to PURCHASE 30% then there should be no issue – other than the REQUIREMENT! How many black billionaires would fork over that money knowing that as MINORITY investors they would never have the ability to affect the operations? Not any SMART enough to BECOME a billionaire – other than a ball player and most of those wouldn’t do it either!
Elon doesn’t do compulsory joint ventures. A number of nations have tried to put such squeezes on him in the past and they’ve all had to either fold or do without. If South Africa wants Starlink, that 30% thing is going to have to be waived. Elon is, in any case, far from alone in reluctance to invest so much as a dime in South Africa and for good reason. South Africa can have all the Starlink it can afford to pay for anytime it is willing to foreswear trying to pick Elon’s pockets.
The entire Reparations push, narrative whatever you want to call it is a ridiculous but effective manipulation that keeps and drives a segment of the black American political anti-American movement focused and empowered.
Never going to happen because the theme of Reparations is utilized only to give some Americans the Right to be and remain mad about something that no one living today had anything to do with. A political psyops.
“YOU OWE ME FOR EXISTING!”
You want to resolve the issue? Let’s demand that those people and companies that had direct connection to slavery have 50% of their wealth confiscated and redistributed to those who can prove harm through evidence. So, the list would have to be started by listing ALL of the Democrats through history that have directly benefitted from slavery.
The list might begin with Kamala Harris and Sonny Hostin? Kamala’s family-owned slaves in “Brown Town” in Jamaica and Hostin’s family were also slave holders. Among many others.
(How do they live with themselves? Why are they not begging forgiveness from their fellow black Americans that their families were directly involved with enslaving?)
An example of the ridiculousness of reparations: https://youtube.com/shorts/Vokt8HfSuig?si=nEAZ_TWRO21QPYQq (Adult language)
You cannot sort and tease out the abuses of the founding of a country, our country and the many advantages it provides for all today. Get over yourself, you are being used!
Just one more race baiting money grab that keeps people “Chained” to the past and unable to make progress for themselves. The Democrats and the radical racists must have the culture of dependency in order to have a cause and purpose, “Hate America!”.
Children think in these terms.
Didn’t the Barbary pirates have more slaves from Europe than the Confederacy?
Question:
Does South Africa have nuclear weapons?
I was under the impression they did at one time.
Vela was likely either theirs and/or Israel’s
SA and Elon could possibly get around any problems if…
SA finds an all SA company to import sell and maintain the antennas. Elon is at that point not touchable. Not responsible for any material parts.
The all SA company could bill everyone and pass off the price of the internet connection to Elon. They could keep all the maintenance and service provider costs.
But all three parties would have to agree.