EFF threatens Ramaphosa with legal action over Starlink
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) say President Cyril Ramaphosa lacks executive authority to unilaterally guarantee access to South Africa’s telecommunications sector.
This follows reports that the government is considering a workaround Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) deal to allow South African-born billionaire Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service to operate in the country.
According to Bloomberg News, a last-minute meeting between South African government officials and Musk, or his representatives, is expected to take place on Tuesday night, ahead of Ramaphosa’s talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Starlink's initial rejection in South Africa stemmed from regulatory requirements under the country’s BEE laws, which mandate that foreign-owned telecoms companies allocate at least 30% of local equity to historically disadvantaged groups, primarily Black South Africans.
Musk publicly criticised these requirements, calling them racially discriminatory.
However, South African officials clarified that Starlink had not submitted a formal license application and reiterated that all companies must comply with local regulations.
In response to the impasse, the government is reportedly considering an “equity equivalence” arrangement — a model that allows foreign companies to meet empowerment goals through alternative contributions, such as infrastructure investment or skills development, instead of direct equity transfer.
This potential deal comes as Ramaphosa aims to strengthen economic ties with the United States during his visit, including a high-profile meeting with President Trump.
Musk, who has served as a senior advisor in Trump’s administration since January 2025 and heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), wields significant political influence in Washington.
The EFF strongly opposes the reported deal, calling it unconstitutional and accusing Ramaphosa of risking South Africa’s sovereignty to appease both Musk and Trump.
"Any such commitments fall squarely within the legislative domain of Parliament, not Luthuli House or the President’s delegation,” said the EFF in a statement.
“These powers are governed by national legislation and independent regulators, not the whims of one man desperate for foreign approval.”
The party claims this is part of a broader campaign to please the Trump administration and white capital at the expense of transformative laws like the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act, the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act, and the Expropriation Bill.
"We will resist any such betrayal of the people’s mandate, including through legal action and mass mobilisation,” the statement read.
While the EFF says it supports technological advancement, it warns that Starlink must not bypass South Africa’s legal and democratic frameworks.
"We are not opposed to technology or global innovation, but we will not allow unregulated, foreign-controlled infrastructure to operate outside our democratic and legislative systems. Starlink represents a threat to local industry and national security, especially as it’s owned by someone who has peddled lies about genocide in South Africa to gain preferential market access.”
"One wonders why Elon Musk is so desperate to do business in a country supposedly involved in genocide. Any true humanitarian would see genocide as a reason not to invest.”
The EFF has vowed to oppose the Starlink deal — in Parliament, in the courts, and in the streets, if necessary.
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