The South African government is close to concluding a deal that could allow Elon Musk's Starlink internet service to operate in the country, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya told TimesLIVE Premium.
Bloomberg reported earlier on Tuesday that Ramaphosa's administration plans to offer a workaround of the black economic empowerment laws.
Magwenya said the department of communications and digital technologies has been working on a process to align sector regulatory instruments with the ICT Sector Code. This code provides for equity equivalent investment and other programmes.
"This process will allow multinational companies to invest in the sector using any technology including LEO satellites. We are nearing the end of this process. At an appropriate time, an announcement will be made.
"Indeed, there have been talks with Starlink. However, the regulatory review exercise has been conducted with a view to benefiting the sector in general, increasing economic growth and extending affordable access to broadband internet services," he said.
The news comes as President Cyril Ramaphosa goes into his much-anticipated meeting with US President Donald Trump.
Given what transpired when Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelensky was humiliated by Trump in front of the press earlier this year, Ramaphosa told reporters outside the South African embassy in Washington that he did not fear the same happening to him.
“Well, South Africans are never humiliated, are they? South Africans always go into everything holding their heads high. We are going to have a really good meeting,” said Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa has a crucial meeting with Trump on Wednesday where he will attempt to de-escalate the diplomatic tensions between the two administrations. The two heads of state agreed to meet in person during a phone call last month in what was seen as a positive step after four months of tensions.
Since coming into office, Trump has launched missives at South Africa, making allegations about genocide against white people in the country — a claim that is not supported by facts.
At the heart of the tense relations with the Trump administration lies South Africa’s case of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Trump’s administration is also seemingly disturbed by South Africa’s close ties to Iran.
You will never know how the meeting's dynamics can take shape, but for us the main issue is the reset of bilateral trade relations
— Ronald Lamola, international relations and cooperation minister
The Expropriation Act, which is meant to redress land injustices of the past, has also contributed to the fallout and had led to the US offering white Afrikaners “refugee” status. About 49 took up the offer and landed in the US last week.
Ramaphosa said South Africans must “fear not” ahead of this meeting, essentially asking the country to trust him.
“Well, we are a sovereign country and we are a very proud nation. We preserve our sovereignty and will always do what is best for South Africans,” he said.
“We are going to have an opportunity to discuss geopolitical issues, not only Israel, but also Ukraine. So all these matters will be on the table for proper discussions, and we are very rational when it comes to discussing global and geopolitical matters and we will put South Africa's interests first and our own foreign policy positions will be well clarified. So fear not.”
What was top of mind, Ramaphosa said, were the trade deals the two countries are going to discuss. The US is one of South Africa’s biggest trading partners.
He said he was hoping for “good” discussions with Trump. Ramaphosa said he was looking forward to “good outcomes” for South Africa, its people, jobs and for the meeting to “normalise” diplomatic relations between the two countries.
“Trade relations are the most important, that's what has brought us here. We want to come out of the US with a really good trade deal, investment promotion — we invest in the US and they invest in us — and we want to strengthen those relations and consolidate good relations between our two countries,” he said.
Business tycoon Johann Rupert is rumoured to be among the South African delegation that will meet Trump. While the Presidency has not confirmed this, Rupert is known to Trump and is believed to have facilitated their first interaction following Trump's inauguration.
The Sunday Times reported this week that government was anticipating that US secretary of state Marco Rubio would lead the charge against South Africa during the closed meetings and during the media briefing by the two heads of state.
They said they believed the South African-born billionaire Elon Musk will be at Trump’s side. The high-level government leaders said they expect a rough meeting.
It's understood that international relations and cooperation minister Ronald Lamola will meet his counterpart Rubio ahead of the meeting. This is where South Africa is likely to gauge the mood of the meeting.
Lamola said the US visit was important and part of an extension on engagements with the Global North. He said Trump's tariffs have nullified the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) by impacting on the preferential treatment of South African products.
“It's very important that this engagement takes place to reset bilateral relations and redefine the trade parameters between the two countries in a manner that still respects the Africa Continental Free Trade Area,” he said.
Lamola said other issues may pop up during the engagements, including the constitutional imperatives of South Africa on redress, but government will emphasise to the Trump administration the importance of the Expropriation Act.
He said a good outcome would be the conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement.
“You will never know how the meeting's dynamics can take shape, but for us the main issue is the reset of bilateral trade relations.”
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