South Africa’s government plans to offer Elon Musk a workaround of local Black-ownership laws for his Starlink internet service to operate in the country, aiming to ease tensions with both the billionaire and US President Donald Trump.

South Africa is preparing to sidestep the country’s Black ownership laws in order to allow Elon Musk to operate Starlink within its borders. Musk claims he has been banned from setting up his satellite-powered internet provider in his home country “because I’m not Black” and accused the South African government of enacting “openly racist ownership laws” which prevent him from operating in his native country.

The government's controversial proposal to exempt Starlink from Black ownership laws raises significant questions about sovereignty and regulatory compliance.