DA accuses ANC of blocking Elon Musk’s Starlink for South Africans
The ANC is blocking South African expat Elon Musk’s Starlink in South Africa with its “laughable” demands, says Dianne Kohler Barnard, DA Shadow Minister of Communications. Barnard says that in a written response received from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, the ANC, in no uncertain terms, declared that South Africans will never receive free […]
The ANC is blocking South African expat Elon Musk’s Starlink in South Africa with its “laughable” demands, says Dianne Kohler Barnard, DA Shadow Minister of Communications.
Barnard says that in a written response received from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, the ANC, in no uncertain terms, declared that South Africans will never receive free internet or data and that millions will continue to live with no access to technology, unless it is provided by an ANC cadre or tenderpreneur.
The ANC said:
“in order for Starlink to operate in South Africa, they require… Individual IECS/IECNS applicants or licensees to have a minimum 30% equity ownership held by persons from historically disadvantaged groups”…
Barnard said in a statement on Wednesday: “It is simply laughable that an international multibillion dollar company must hand over at least 30% of its equity to the ANC government to operate within South Africa.”
Elon Musk’s Starlink is the world’s first and largest satellite constellation to deliver broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls and more. Examples of countries benefitting from its use include Ukraine during the Russian invasion where Musk ensured that any attempt to black out communications by the Russians would fail, explained Barnard.
“South Africa looks set to become one of the only African countries to not roll out Starlink. Currently, at least 20 African countries have either rolled out or are set to get Starlink in the near future. Even our neighbours, Mozambique and Botswana are ahead of us in the rollout.
“If Starlink were available in South Africa, children in even the most rural of areas would have access to information and learning materials, and others would be able to educate themselves beyond the constraints of formal universities or schools which millions simply cannot afford.
“Everyone would have access to streaming services where different trades and skills can be learnt or even where the government would now have the opportunity to set up free online educational portals to give everyone a fighting chance of escaping the high levels of unemployment.
“Instead, the ANC would prefer to keep the people of South Africa in the digital dark, uneducated and unable to create prosperous opportunities for themselves or lift themselves out of extreme poverty,” said Barnard.
“It is nonsensical that where such an opportunity could present itself, the ANC would rather stick to its archaic cadre deployment style policies and rather ensure that its politically connected friends are awarded exorbitant tenders rather than actually make a difference in the lives of South Africans.”
The DA will be writing to the Minister to amend these regulations to remove the “archaic, irrational and ridiculous hurdles” to progress.
Additionally, the DA will ask both Elon Musk’s office and Space X to make an application to the ANC government to provide these services within South Africa and pressure the ANC into “allowing our people to join the rest of the world online and not become the digital pariah of not only our own continent but the rest of the world,” said Barnard.
Starlink provides internet to the most remote areas. There is still a huge population without internet. Internet allows access to information and education. @elonmusk @SpaceX pic.twitter.com/IGtF8TaBvS
— Tesla Owners Silicon Valley (@teslaownersSV) April 15, 2023
Falcon 9 launches Starlink to orbit, completing our 20th launch of the year pic.twitter.com/2aX0OURUtk
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 24, 2023