Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

27 April 2025

3-minute read

Non-profit Organization Public Interest South Africa has added their voices to other political parties and organizations slamming Communication Minister Solly Malawutsi’s published policy directive allowing Starlink to operate in SA.

Tebogo Kaas from Public Interest SA says that they are concerned about the “move that is intending to specifically assist a particular player in the telecoms sector globally.” The move will exempt Starlink from complying with SA’s broad based Black Economic Empowerment requirements, giving authorities like IKASA and other regulating bodies no say.

He says that while they are not opposed to “equity equivalence,” there ought to be due process to ensure fairness and transparency for all role players. The minister’s actions are not “aligned with the DTI” and should be “reigned in” for harmonisation of sectoral codes applicable to all sectors, especially that of telecommunications.

A major concern is that a non-public official, the richest man in South Africa, Johan Rupert, announced on television in the Oval Office of the White House that “Starlink will be a player in South Africa” without any administrative process being instituted. Following closely behind, Minister Malawutsi “moved with speed” to have the announcement gazetted. “We cannot allow another state capture,” Mr Kaas emphasized, stating that we should be more circumspect about such moves.

While Starlink will be of benefit to the country with satellite solutions to provide adequate network coverage in rural areas, Tebogo reiterated that “we are a country governed by a rule of law.” Licenses are issued and regulated subject to following certain processes, and circumventing these processes is setting a “dangerous precedent.”

Public Interest SA is proposing 5 key recommendations, amongst them harmonisation of equity equivalent programs and recalibration of programs designed years ago, to address interventions and outcomes, Mr Kaas concluded.

Listen to the full interview here.