Malatsi's 'Starlink directive' lambasted

ANC body says it is an attempt to bypass economic redress laws

- By Mawande AmaShabalala and Queenin Masuabi

ANC NEC communications subcommittee chairperson Nkenke Kekana says there must be a holistic change of the law if what was proposed by Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi over the directive on satellite communication services is to see the light of day.

This comes as parliament prepares to grill Malatsi on Tuesday over the directive on satellite communication services he gazetted this week.

The move by Malatsi has drawn the ire of various parties, who contend it's a veiled effort to allow billionaire Elon Musk easy passage to operate his Starlink satellite which is owned by Space X, in the country by circumventing economic redress laws.

"As a solution to the licensing process for any potential telecoms provider, the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies must consider opening a new licensing window by issuing a policy directive to the authority (Icasa), wherein the authority will be instructed to conduct an inquiry that is meant to determine the appetite for this opportunity.