‘Merit over skin colour’: Elon Musk reacts to SA’s BEE laws?
Elon Musk reacted to US President Donald Trump’s views of South Africa, particularly hinting at the BEE backlash to his Starlink proposal.
South African-born businessman Elon Musk has backed US President Donald Trump and his son, Donald Trump Junior, in their views about his home country, particularly the legislation involving land expropriation and Black Economic Empowerment (BEE).
The world’s richest man – who hails from Pretoria – has previously accused SA politicians of “pushing for the genocide of white people.”
He’s also butted heads with SA over his company, Starlink’s requirement to acquire 30% ownership of black investors.
ELON MUSK BACKS TRUMP OVER ‘MERIT OVER COLOUR’ DEBATE
On Sunday, 2 February, US President Trump issued a warning to South Africa over what he believes is “racial discrimination.”
The newly re-elected statesman tweeted: “South Africa is confiscating land and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY.”
“The United States won’t stand for it; we will act. Also, I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!”
The son of the “America First” president – Donald Trump Junior – tweeted his similar views about “racial discrimination.”
He tweeted: “Thank God [we] finally have a government that uses commonsense again and puts merit ahead of skin color!”
Elon Musk responded to the controversial tweet, adding: “Absolutely. Returning to merit above all will save many innocent lives”.
Since taking office last month, Trump has frozen foreign aid, particularly USAID’s distribution of ARVs to South Africans.
Elon brazenly called the USAID a “criminal organisation”.
STARLINK PROPOSAL FOR SA AND THE BEE DEALBREAKER?
Meanwhile, Elon Musk is hoping to bring his internet satellite, Starlink, to South Africa.
The world’s richest man – born in SA – met with President Cyril Ramaphosa in September last year, likely to discuss the local investment.
However, the move has been met with resistance from stakeholders who have urged the businessman to uphold the country’s BEE regulations.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) states that, like all businesses that deal with the government, Starlink must adhere to a 30% shareholding by “historically disadvantaged” groups or black investors.
Communications and Digital Communications Committee Chairperson Khusela Diko reiterated this in parliament last week, stating that there were “no exceptions” to Elon Musk’s proposal.
Diko said the US had similar values, as was the case with the temporary banning of TikTok in the country.
She said: “President [Donald] Trump then said TikTok can continue to operate in the US provided the company is 50% owned by a US citizen.”
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF ELON MUSK, DONALD TRUMP’S STANCE ON SA LAWS?
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