Keep pulling the thread on Next Africa.
South Africa's Black Economic Empowerment laws require telecommunications companies to have at least 30% local Black ownership, which has prevented Starlink from launching in the country.
Elon Musk stated he cannot obtain a license to operate Starlink in South Africa because he is not Black, describing the country's ownership laws as 'racist'.
A political split exists within South Africa's government over changing ownership laws for companies like Starlink, with Minister Soleim Latsi of the DA supporting alternatives while Deputy Minister Mondli Gungubele of the ANC opposes changes.
Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service is active in 25 African countries, including Nigeria and Kenya.
Starlink has a corporate policy of not ceding local ownership in the markets where it operates, which has created regulatory hurdles in several African countries.
Starlink operates a low-earth orbit constellation of approximately 14,000 satellites.
While overall internet connectivity in South Africa exceeds 80%, less than 1% of rural houses in the country are connected.
Starlink has offered to invest 500 million South African Rand to connect rural schools with high-speed internet as an alternative to meeting local ownership requirements.
Namibia blocked Starlink's entry because the company would not comply with the country's 51% local ownership requirement for telecommunications firms.
Starlink's long-term goal is to operate in all 54 countries in Africa.
Major African telecommunications providers including MTN, Airtel, and Vodacom have formed partnerships with Starlink to sell its hardware in their retail stores.
Anti-corruption authorities in Madagascar are investigating irregularities in the management of public resources estimated at $919 million.