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Icasa shuts down Starlink for operating illegally in South Africa

Bulelwa Hoala

Icasa shuts down Starlink for operating illegally in South Africa
Image: @ICASA_org on X

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) recently confiscated equipment belonging to  Elon Musk’s Space X, which owns Starlink, from a company called ICASAsePush in the Northern Cape.

This comes after ICASA launched an investigation into allegations that Starlink’s internet satellite service has been operating illegally in South Africa

Speaking to Newzroom Afrika on Wednesday, 3 June 2025, ICASA Chairperson, Mothibi Ramusi confirmed that Starlink has been operating illegally in SA as far back as 2022.

“This matter of Starlink it’s not starting this year. I must put it on record that as an authority we have been made aware as early as 2022/20223.”

Ramusi said ICASA was able to launch an investigation, which led them to confiscate SpaceX equipment in the Northern Cape.

My Broadband reports that Starlink has already started disconnecting South African users from its roaming plans, with emails stating, “You are currently using Starlink in an unauthorised territory. As a result, your service will be suspended effective immediately.”

Talks to launch Starlink in South Africa came to a halt early this year after Musk claimed that Starlink was banned from operating in South Africa because he is not black.

Most recently, President Cyril Ramaphosa met with US President Donald Trump in Washington to iron out strained relations due to Trump’s claims of a “white genocide” in South Africa.

Following the meeting, Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi published a policy direction to ease broad-based economic empowerment (B-BBEE) regulations in the Information and Communications Technology sector, which may pave the way for Starlink to start operating legally in South Africa.

READ NEXT: General Masemola condemns attack on SAPS officers in Westbury

Written by: Bulelwa



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