Sep 24, 2024
President Cyril Ramaphosa Meets with Elon Musk in New York
ABoost to South Africa feature tech
President Ramaphosa and Elon Musk discuss investment and Starlink's future in South Africa at the UN General Assembly New York United States of America
By eKayzone.co.za, a Free South African Buy and Sell Online Marketplace - Johannesburg
Johannesburg, 24 Sept 2024
During the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Cyril Ramaphosa held a closed-door meeting with South African-born tech billionaire Elon Musk. The meeting, reported by SABC, was described by Ramaphosa as “positive,” focusing on potential investments and the future of Starlink in South Africa.
Ramaphosa Engages with Elon Musk
Ramaphosa’s meeting with Musk was a significant moment as South Africa looks to draw more foreign investment into its growing tech and infrastructure sectors. Musk, who is the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, and the owner of X Corp (which operates the social media platform X, formerly Twitter), discussed key investment opportunities in the country.
“We had a good meeting,” Ramaphosa said after the engagement. “Absolutely,” Musk responded, highlighting the constructive nature of the discussion.
Attracting Foreign Investment to South Africa
President Ramaphosa’s visit to the U.S. is part of a broader strategy to attract foreign direct investment to South Africa. Apart from meeting Musk, Ramaphosa addressed business leaders at the SA-US Interactive Business Forum held at the New York Stock Exchange and delivered a keynote at a roundtable hosted by the Business Council for International Understanding. These meetings are critical in driving South Africa's economic growth and opening up tech opportunities for the country.
Musk’s Starlink and South Africa
One of the key topics of discussion between Musk and Ramaphosa was Starlink, Musk’s low-Earth orbit satellite internet constellation, which is already operational in over 60 countries. While Starlink is available in neighboring African countries like Botswana, Nigeria, and Zambia, its rollout in South Africa has been delayed. The launch is still marked as “unknown” on Starlink's official coverage map.
The delay is partly due to regulatory hurdles with South Africa's Independent Communications Authority (ICASA), which requires companies like Starlink to meet BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) compliance standards, including a 30% BEE requirement for operating licenses. Musk has stated on X that Starlink is still “waiting for regulatory approval” in South Africa.
Ramaphosa’s Push for Starlink in South Africa
In ongoing discussions, President Ramaphosa is reportedly keen to bring Starlink to South Africa to help bridge the country’s digital divide, particularly in rural areas where internet access is scarce. According to Ramaphosa, he has urged Musk to invest in South Africa, saying, “Elon, you’ve become so successful, and you’re investing in a variety of countries, I want you to come home and invest here.”
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