Communications Dept: Gazetting of draft policy in ICT sector has nothing to do with Starlink
JOHANNESBURG - The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies said that Friday's gazetting of a draft policy in the ICT sector has nothing to do with international satellite company, Starlink.
Minister Solly Malatsi issued the draft policy direction for public comment on Friday.
ALSO READ:
• Companies who benefit from easing of BEE requirements need to invest in equity equivalent - Communications Dept
• Communications Dept issues gazette to review B-BBEE licensing requirements for satellite service companies
If passed, this will allow companies in the ICT sector, like Elon Musk's satellite internet company, Starlink, to operate without complying with a 30% black ownership requirement.
The draft policy direction by Malatsi follows remarks by Musk that he had been denied a license to operate in South Africa because he was not black.
If the proposed policy passes, the way would be paved for the company to operate in South Africa without being 30% black-owned.
But the department's spokesperson, Kwena Moloto, denied that this move had anything to do with Starlink or this week's meeting between presidents Donald Trump and Cyril Ramaphosa, where Musk was present.
With the public invited to make comments on the draft policy direction, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said that it would challenge the proposal in Parliament.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Are we inviting the World Bank's interference or seeking genuine support?
Later this year the World Bank Group will launch the second pilot edition of its B-READY report, a new benchmark for assessing global business climates. Image: Wikipedia Has the World Bank's flagship business index already been hijacked — from a South African perspective — even before the country's debut in the pilot phase? Money, as Ayn Rand wrote, is the barometer of a society's virtue. In her 1957 novel Atlas Shrugged, Rand observed: 'When you see that trading is done not by consent but by compulsion, when you see that to produce, you need permission from men who produce nothing, when money flows to those dealing in favors rather than goods — when corruption is rewarded and honesty becomes self-sacrifice — you may know your society is doomed.' Nearly seven decades later, her words remain chillingly relevant. Later this year (September–October 2025), the World Bank Group (WBG) will launch the second pilot edition of its Business Ready (B-READY) report, a new benchmark for assessing global business climates. South Africa is set to join the third pilot in 2026, alongside 184 economies, before the project's full rollout in 2027. B-READY, an evolution of the discontinued Doing Business survey, evaluates regulatory frameworks and public services affecting firms. For South Africa, the index focuses on 10 key areas — business entry, utilities, labour, financial services, taxation, dispute resolution, and more — spanning four departments: Employment and Labour; Finance; Small Business Development; and Trade, Industry, and Competition. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The WBG has already critiqued South Africa's 'hard regulations', including BEE policies, local content rules, and collective bargaining, arguing they stifle implementation and breed corruption. A February 2025 WBG report, Driving Inclusive Growth in South Africa, also highlighted weak market competition as a critical flaw. Notably, the report's contributors included prominent South African economists and private-sector representatives — Tania Ajam, Haroon Bhorat, Mcebisi Jonas, and others. While the World Bank is a respected institution, its reports often reflect local biases rather than impartial Washington analysis. South African policymakers are well aware of this — and of attempts to influence policy through institutions and 'experts' of perceived gravitas. B-READY's methodology relies on firm-level surveys and confidential expert input, raising questions about transparency. In a country with low internet penetration and a gatekeeping culture, how representative will these surveys be? The selection process — scouring LinkedIn, conferences, and embassy directories — hardly guarantees objectivity. The Doing Business report's demise in 2020 followed data manipulation scandals involving China, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Is South Africa immune to such interference? With competing economic agendas, disjointed governance, and external pressures (including from Trump-aligned figures), the risk of distortion is real. Domestically, the DA is challenging labour laws in court, while AfriForum lobbies foreign governments against B-BBEE. Meanwhile, institutions such as the CIPC, Competition Commission, and SARS — though theoretically capable of enabling business — remain inefficient and disjointed. Consider recent examples: CIPC's mass deregistration of 'non-compliant' companies, under the guise of FATF compliance, ignores South Africa's unemployment crisis. Private-sector exploitation of undocumented workers (Uber, SPAR franchises) flouts labour and tax laws. Tshwane's revenue crackdown exposes rampant illegal utility connections by businesses. Will the World Bank's surveys capture these realities? Or will its findings — like past reports — be skewed by advocacy masquerading as research? A 2005 evaluation of WBG research (led by Nobel laureate Angus Deaton) found that the Bank elevated favourable studies and ignored inconvenient ones, blurring the line between analysis and agenda. South Africa doesn't need external interference — it needs will. Regulatory bodies must function cohesively. Policies should enable, not strangle. And if B-READY is to be Rand's 'noble medium', it must resist becoming another tool of coercion. The question lingers: Is the World Bank's index a genuine reform tool—or a new frontier of influence against South Africa? * Makgwathane Mothapo is a marketing and communications practitioner. ** The views expressed here do not reflect those of the Sunday Independent, IOL, or Independent Media. Get the real story on the go: Follow the Sunday Independent on WhatsApp.
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
The HONOR 400 & 400 Pro Launch Underscores Impressive AI Investment, Local Inclusion, and Bold 2028 No. 1 Market Share Ambition
Following strong uptake of its AI-powered innovations in South Africa, HONOR has introduced the new HONOR 400 and HONOR 400 Pro . This is a launch that could further entrench the brand's momentum in the local mid-to-premium market. Unveiled at Kyalami Racecourse, the event brought together government and industry voices, including Communications Minister, The Honorable Mr. Solly Malatsi, underscoring the growing alignment between mobile innovation and digital policy. The HONOR 400 & 400 Pro marks a notable shift in normalising access to premium technology. These devices bring high-end features into a more accessible range, including: The first global rollout of Google Cloud's Veo 2 Image-to-Video tool , built directly into the phone's gallery AI Deepfake Detection and on-device call translation to meet the privacy and productivity demands, which can detect whether the participant in a video call is using deepfake technology. HONOR's 50× AI SuperZoom , intelligent editing tools and the incredible 200MP main sensor A 6000mAh silicon-carbon battery , IP-rated build quality and MagicOS 9.0 across the range and a big storage of 12+512G. The HONOR 400 is powered by a Snapdragon, while the 400 Pro introduces Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance. Both devices are supported by Android updates and security patches, a rare commitment in this segment. The HONOR 400 Series is launched with a promotional offer: Buyers will receive R8000 worth of additional value in the form of the HONOR Choice Watch 2i, HONOR Choice Earbuds X7 Lite and an HONOR Choice Powerbank 10000mAh until 31 July 2025. Available from Vodacom, MTN, Telkom and Cell C, the HONOR 400 is priced from 12,999 and the HONOR 400 Pro from R17,999. With hardware innovation backed by long-term AI investment, HONOR is further positioning itself as both a product leader and a strategic player in South Africa's mobile economy.
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
HONOR 400 and 400 Pro launch in South Africa: A new era of smartphone photography
The HONOR 400 and HONOR 400 Pro have officially launched in South Africa, extending the brand's AI-first approach to photography and creative tools. Unveiled at Kyalami Racecourse on Thursday night, the launch offered early access to HONOR's most advanced imaging experience yet, including features usually expected from flagship releases. Among the first to test the devices were creators, developers, and the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, reflecting the growing intersection of AI, mobile tech, and digital policy. HONOR is now ranked No. 2 in market share locally, with an ambitious goal to reach No. 1 by 2028. What sets this release apart is not just what's included but what's arriving first. The HONOR 400 and 400 Pro debut Google Cloud's Veo 2-powered Image-to-Video tool, giving users an exciting way to transform stills into cinematic video clips in seconds. That old picture of a young gogo in the 70s can now move. It also introduces an industry-first 50× telephoto zoom via the main camera, using AI to sharpen distant details without a bulky lens. The series includes tools such as: AI Erase Passers-by, using AI to automatically identify pedestrians in photos and remove them. AI Deepfake Detection , a first at this tier which can detect whether the participant in a video call is using deepfake technology. A 6.7-inch OLED display with 5000nits Peak Brightness and 6000mAh silicon-carbon battery with a big storage 12+512G Available now from R12,999 for the HONOR 400 and R17,999 for the HONOR 400 Pro , both devices are stocked at Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, and Cell C. Each purchase includes R8,000 worth of added value: the HONOR Watch 2i, HONOR Choice Earbuds X7 Lite, and an HONOR Choice Powerbank 10000mAh, until July 31, 2025. For those looking for the edge without the excess, this is one of the most compelling smartphone launches of the year. The Star
