Investing.com -- South Africa has dismissed Elon Musk’s assertion that his company, Starlink, is barred from operating in the country due to his racial background. The country’s telecoms regulator has stated that Starlink has not even applied for a license.

Elon Musk, originally from South Africa, made this claim on X, a platform he owns. He stated, "Starlink is not allowed to operate in South Africa, because I’m not black". This comment was quickly refuted by Clayson Monyela, a senior official in the foreign affairs department of South Africa. Monyela responded, "Sir, that’s NOT true & you know it! It’s got nothing to do with your skin color. Starlink is welcome to operate in South Africa provided there’s compliance with local laws. This is a global international trade & investment principle."

Musk’s statement seems to be a critique of the local Black Economic Empowerment rules, which require foreign-owned telecommunications licensees to sell 30% of the equity in their local subsidiaries to historically disadvantaged groups. According to the South African technology news website TechCentral, Starlink’s parent company SpaceX has written to the telecommunications regulator ICASA, suggesting a reconsideration of the 30% ownership requirement for licensees.

However, an ICASA spokesperson stated that they have not received any application from Starlink or SpaceX. Communications minister Solly Malatsi did not provide a comment on the matter. TechCentral also reported that Malatsi has asked ICASA to consider "equity equivalents" like skills development to allow companies like SpaceX to operate locally.

Starlink operates in many African countries but has faced licensing issues in countries such as Cameroon and Namibia, in addition to South Africa. Musk, who is now the world’s richest person and a top adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, attended school in Pretoria, South Africa, before moving to the United States.

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