The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) firmly opposes the illegal operations of Starlink in South Africa and any attempt to rewrite or bend existing telecommunications regulations to accommodate this foreign monopoly. This is a clear case of digital imperialism — one that threatens national sovereignty, undermines public policy, and disregards even the weakest forms of post-apartheid economic transformation.
Starlink Has No Licence to Operate in South Africa
Despite widespread speculation and grey-market usage:
- ICASA has confirmed that Starlink is not licensed to provide services in South Africa.
- The use of Starlink terminals in the country is illegal and ICASA is actively investigating these operations.
- ICASA is considering lodging a formal complaint with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to escalate enforcement against SpaceX, Starlink’s parent company.
In short, Starlink is violating South Africa’s legal and regulatory framework — and must be held accountable.
SAFTU Condemns Any Attempt to Rewrite Local Laws for Starlink
We are deeply concerned by statements from Communications Minister Solly Malatsi suggesting that “alternative” compliance mechanisms (such as local partnerships or skills investments) might be introduced in place of the existing 30% local ownership requirement for foreign telecom licensees.
Let us be clear:
SAFTU does not support B-BBEE, which we regard as an elite enrichment scheme that has failed the black working class. However, South African laws must not be formulated, shaped or amended by an external imperial force in the interest of its billionaire class. We categorically reject the idea of bending South African law to accommodate a foreign billionaire’s empire — even if those laws are themselves flawed.
The responsibility and the power to change flawed laws is the prerogative of the South African working class and no external force must usurp that power. To do otherwise would be to open the floodgates to corporate imperialism, stripping South Africa of its ability to regulate critical infrastructure in the national interest.
Digital Colonialism Disguised as Connectivity
Starlink is not a neutral internet service. It is part of a broader U.S. imperial project to control global digital infrastructure.
- It offers no local investment, no jobs, no industrial capacity, and no accountability.
- It extracts profits from South Africans while avoiding our regulations and contributing nothing to our developmental goals.
- It represents a form of digital apartheid, where the privileged few access foreign-owned tech while our rural and working-class communities remain underserved by public infrastructure.
SAFTU’s Position
- Reject Starlink’s illegal presence and demand enforcement by ICASA.
- Oppose any policy manipulation to rewrite laws or bypass local ownership rules in favour of foreign capital.
- Advance alternatives such as publicly owned broadband, community networks, and democratic control of digital infrastructure.
- Expose the geopolitical motives behind projects like Starlink, and resist U.S. tech imperialism in Africa.
Conclusion: No to Digital Imperialism! Yes to Sovereignty, Jobs, and Democratic Development!
SAFTU calls on Parliament, ICASA, and all South Africans to defend our sovereignty against corporate capture. Let us build digital infrastructure that serves the people — not global elites.
Statement issued on behalf of SAFTU by the General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi.
For more details, contact the National Spokesperson at:
Newton Masuku
066 168 2157
Newtonm@saftu.org.za
