Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has claimed that Starlink has been prevented from obtaining a license to provide internet services in South Africa because of his race. In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk said the satellite internet company is barred from operating in the country “solely because I am not Black.”
Musk was responding to a post shared by X user DogeDesigner, who quoted remarks Musk made at the Qatar Economic Forum last year. At that event, Musk argued that South Africa has more than 140 laws that prioritize Black South Africans, making it difficult for companies owned by non-Black individuals to operate. He specifically cited Starlink as an example, saying it cannot receive regulatory approval because he does not meet the country’s racial ownership requirements.
Replying to the resurfaced comments, Musk wrote: “Starlink is not allowed to have an Internet provider license in South Africa for the sole reason that I am not Black. This is not ok.”
In subsequent posts, Musk went further, accusing South Africa of enforcing what he described as “anti-White laws.” He claimed that current legislation discriminates against White citizens and other racial groups, stating that the country now has more laws targeting White people than there were laws discriminating against Black people during the apartheid era. Musk added that while he strongly opposes any form of anti-Black legislation, he is equally against laws that disadvantage White people or any other race, arguing that laws should apply fairly to everyone.
Musk has also recently criticized South Africa’s Expropriation Act, which allows land to be taken without compensation in certain limited cases deemed to be in the public interest for land reform. He warned that such policies amount to legalized confiscation, writing that land seizure from non-Black citizens has now been formally enacted into law.
In one post, Musk suggested that similar policies could spread beyond South Africa, claiming the United States could face the same path if such ideas are not challenged. He linked this concern to ongoing debates in the U.S. over property rights, referencing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s defense of appointee Cea Weaver, who has publicly supported the seizure of private homes. Mamdani has cited South Africa’s Freedom Charter as an inspiration for addressing economic inequality.
