Eff and MK Party Oppose Policy Adjustment for Starlink

(The Post News)- South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party have strongly opposed the government’s recent policy adjustment that eases regulatory barriers for Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, calling it a “backdoor for foreign monopolies.”

The two political parties voiced concerns over the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies’ decision to streamline licensing for foreign-owned satellite operators like Starlink. The move is intended to fast-track rural connectivity and improve digital access, especially in underserved communities. However, critics argue that it comes at the expense of local industry growth and sovereignty.

EFF spokesperson Vuyani Pambo said in a statement on Thursday that “handing over digital infrastructure to foreign corporate giants like Starlink is not progress, it’s digital colonisation.” He added that local companies should be prioritised in efforts to bridge the digital divide and accused the government of “kowtowing to Silicon Valley elites.”

Similarly, the MK Party, a new but vocal player on the political scene, described the policy shift as a “sellout move” that undermines South African innovation. “While we agree that connectivity is essential, the solution should not involve sacrificing control over our digital future,” said MK communications head Sibusiso Mavuso.

“The government must invest in home-grown tech solutions rather than opening the floodgates to foreign monopolies.”

Starlink has faced similar resistance in several African countries, with debates centering on how to balance the urgent need for connectivity with the risks of market domination by global tech giants. Supporters argue that Starlink can bring high-speed internet to remote areas where traditional infrastructure is not workable, while detractors warn that such dependence may erode digital sovereignty.

The Department has yet to respond directly to the criticism, but officials have previously stated that the policy easing includes safeguards and conditional licensing to protect national interests.

As the debate intensifies, South Africa finds itself at a crossroads: whether to embrace rapid connectivity via foreign innovation or to tread carefully in protecting its local tech ecosystem.