JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) issued a blistering statement Tuesday condemning President Cyril Ramaphosa for reportedly planning to offer regulatory assurances to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service ahead of his meeting with US President Donald Trump this week.

The opposition party’s statement comes amid reports that the South African government plans to offer Musk a workaround to local Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) laws that would allow Starlink to operate in the country.

“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,” the EFF said in its statement dated May 20, 2025.

The controversy has intensified longstanding tensions over Starlink’s entry into Africa’s most developed economy. Musk, who was born in South Africa, has previously criticized the country’s BEE laws, falsely claiming in March that Starlink was barred from operating in South Africa because he is “not Black.”

South African officials promptly refuted this claim, with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) clarifying that Starlink had not even applied for an operating license at that time.

Under South Africa’s current regulations, foreign-owned telecommunications companies must sell 30% of the equity in their local subsidiaries to historically disadvantaged groups. This requirement is part of the country’s broader efforts to address economic inequalities stemming from the apartheid era.

“We must remind the public and the presidency that Cyril Ramaphosa has no executive authority to unilaterally guarantee access to South Africa’s telecommunications sector, let alone bypass necessary BEE laws,” the EFF stressed. “Any such commitments fall squarely within the legislative domain of Parliament, not Luthuli House or the President’s delegation.”

President Ramaphosa is currently in Washington for a crucial meeting with President Trump scheduled for Wednesday. The visit aims to mend diplomatic relations that have deteriorated since Trump took office in January. In February, the Trump administration cut aid to South Africa and last week granted refugee status to a group of white South Africans, citing alleged racial discrimination.

The EFF expressed concern that the Starlink deal could be “part of a broader campaign by Ramaphosa to appease the Trump administration and white capital by potentially sacrificing key transformative laws” including the National Health Insurance Act and the Expropriation Act.

“We are not opposed to technology or global innovation, but we will not allow unregulated, foreign-controlled infrastructure to operate outside South Africa’s democratic and legislative framework,” the party said.

The South African government has not officially confirmed the reported offer to Musk, but presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya acknowledged on Monday that business opportunities for Musk’s companies would be discussed during the Washington visit.

“The issue [of licensing for Starlink] will be discussed,” Magwenya told Reuters when questioned about the matter.

Starlink already operates in more than 16 African countries, including neighboring Botswana, as well as Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana. However, its entry into South Africa has been complicated by both regulatory requirements and political tensions.

The EFF has vowed to “oppose this Starlink deal in Parliament, in the courts, and in the streets if necessary,” adding that “our sovereignty is not for sale to billionaires, nor can it be bought with handshakes in backrooms.”

As Ramaphosa prepares for his meeting with Trump, the controversy highlights the complex intersection of international relations, economic policy, and the lingering effects of South Africa’s apartheid past—all playing out against the backdrop of Musk’s significant influence in the Trump administration.