By Johnathan Paoli
The EFF has launched a scathing attack on President Cyril Ramaphosa, accusing him of making unconstitutional and “illegal assurances” to billionaire Elon Musk and his satellite internet firm, Starlink, as part of a broader agenda to appease US President Donald Trump.
In a statement released, the EFF condemned reports that Ramaphosa’s administration is set to offer regulatory concessions to enable Starlink to operate in South Africa, potentially bypassing Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) laws in the process.
“This move is not only unconstitutional, but it also exposes Ramaphosa as willing to compromise on our sovereignty to massage the inflated ego of Elon Musk and Donald Trump,” party spokesperson Sinawo Thambo said.
The EFF warned that any attempt to grant Starlink access to South Africa’s telecommunications market without going through parliament or independent regulatory approval processes would amount to executive overreach.
“Ramaphosa has no executive authority to unilaterally guarantee access to the telecommunications sector, let alone undermine BEE legislation. Such powers lie within the legislative domain of Parliament and our independent regulators, not the whims of one man desperate for foreign approval,” Thambo said.
The president is currently on a working visit to the United States, where he is expected to meet President Trump to discuss strained bilateral relations.
According to presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, the president’s delegation is also exploring potential business ventures with Musk, including Starlink and electric vehicle company Tesla.
It has been reported that South Africa may offer an “equity equivalence” model to sidestep BEE ownership rules for foreign ICT companies.
This model, previously used in the automotive sector, would allow Starlink to invest in digital infrastructure or rural connectivity as a substitute for local equity ownership.
Critics argue that this workaround undermines the spirit of South Africa’s BEE policies, especially if implemented to benefit a foreign billionaire who has openly criticised the country’s laws.
In March, Musk falsely claimed Starlink was blocked in South Africa because he is “not Black,” a statement widely condemned by the government and civil society.
While acknowledging the need for digital innovation, the EFF insists that allowing unregulated foreign-controlled infrastructure into the country could be detrimental.
“Starlink represents a threat to local industry and national security. It is owned by a man who has peddled lies about a genocide in South Africa to leverage preferential and unregulated access to our market,” the spokesperson said.
The party said it was especially concerned that Ramaphosa’s actions form part of a broader campaign to placate Trump and foreign investors, potentially at the expense of progressive legislation like the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act, the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill, and the Expropriation Bill.
The red berets warned that they would resist any betrayal of the people’s mandate, through Parliament, through the courts, and, if necessary, in the streets.
Tensions between South Africa and the US have escalated under Trump’s second term, particularly after his administration cut HIV/AIDS funding and granted refugee status to 49 white South Africans alleging racial persecution.
With Ramaphosa seeking to mend relations, political analysts warn that the president may be forced to make significant concessions.
But for the EFF, this is a line that cannot be crossed.
“Our sovereignty is not for sale to billionaires, nor can it be bought with handshakes in backrooms,” Thambo said.
As speculation swirls over whether a Starlink agreement will emerge from the Ramaphosa-Trump meeting, the EFF has made its position clear: any deal that circumvents South African law will be met with fierce resistance.
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