Elon Musk claims Starlink can't operate in South Africa due to race issue
- Elon Musk claimed that his project, Starlink, is not permitted to operate in South Africa due to his race.
- The South African government clarified that Starlink is welcome as long as legal requirements are followed.
- Regulatory changes are being proposed to facilitate Starlink's entry into the South African market.
In March 2025, Elon Musk made a controversial statement claiming that the satellite internet service, Starlink, cannot operate in South Africa due to his racial background, claiming, "I'm not black." This assertion was reiterated during an interview at the Qatar Economic Forum on May 20, 2025, leading to widespread attention and debate on social media platforms. However, South Africa's telecommunications regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), clarified that there is no ban on Starlink operating in the country. Instead, they stated that Musk's company had not submitted an application to operate in South Africa nor attempted to navigate the local regulations. According to the South African foreign ministry, Starlink could operate if it complied with the nation's laws.