Billionaire Elon Musk’s satellite internet firm, Starlink, is reportedly considering an R2 billion ($112.7 million) investment in South Africa as a potential workaround to the country’s Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) requirements.
Starlink has communicated plans to partner with local South African companies for various infrastructure needs, including land leasing, fibre optics, energy services, security, and ongoing maintenance, as part of its efforts to meet compliance requirements.
This proposed investment comes as Starlink aims to secure a deal with the South African government ahead of the G20 Summit scheduled to take place in Johannesburg this November.
Musk, who was born in South Africa, has previously claimed that Starlink is blocked from operating in the country because he is “not Black”, a statement that South African officials have publicly denied. While Starlink is already active in 17 African countries, including neighbouring Namibia, Botswana, and Mozambique, it remains unavailable in South Africa, the continent’s largest economy.
Source: africa.businessinsider
