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South Africa's government plans to offer Elon Musk a workaround of local Black ownership laws for his Starlink internet service to operate in the country, aiming to ease tensions with both the billionaire and US President Donald Trump.

The offer will come at a last-minute meeting planned for Tuesday night between Musk or his representatives and a delegation of South African officials travelling with President Cyril Ramaphosa, according to three people familiar with the discussions.

It's meant to defuse the onslaught of criticism by Musk and Trump - who've spread the conspiracy theory that there's a genocide against White people in Africa's most-industrialised nation - before Ramaphosa's visit to the White House on Wednesday, said the people, who asked not to be identified as they're not authorised to discuss the matter.

The alternative to so-called Black Economic Empowerment laws that in some cases require 30% Black ownership is not specific to Starlink and Musk, the people said. It would be applied to all information and communication technology companies, including those from China and the Middle East, the people said.

A so-called Equity Equivalent option would instead involve investments in infrastructure or training, or providing Starlink kits to rural areas in order to help improve Internet access. The auto industry in 2019 signed up for a similar workaround that involved the largest car manufacturers - including BMW AG, Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. - setting up a fund to bring disenfrachised groups into the sector.

BEE rules were introduced after the end of apartheid, during which Black people were subjugated and excluded from the formal economy by the ruling White minority. Today, White people earn on average five times what Black people earn, according to official statistics, and own the vast majority of farmland despite making up 7% of the population.

The new rules for ICT companies aren't about "providing access to a single company, but rather part of a broader strategy to create an enabling environment for international investment and expand digital connectivity across South Africa," South Africa's Department of Communications and Digital Technologies said in a response to a request for comment.

Starlink Talks Stall

Talks on launching Starlink in South Africa stalled earlier this year after Musk and Trump ramped up public rhetoric against policies such as BEE laws.

Musk, who was born in Pretoria, claimed that he was not allowed to operate his satellite service in South Africa "because I'm not Black" and accused the government of having "openly racist ownership laws."

Trump has also granted refugee status to White minorities in South Africa and criticised a law that gives the government the power to take land for a public purpose. The act is similar to US eminent domain laws - though the law in South Africa allows for expropriation without compensation in certain cases such as land that's been abandoned and State-owned property not in use. For now, no land has been seized.

Trump twice last week repeated the false claim that White people are subject to a genocide in South Africa. A South African court in February ruled that there was no evidence to support the claim, calling the idea "clearly imagined and not real."

South Africa's talks with Musk over Starlink won't necessarily form part of a proposed larger trade deal with the US, though getting Musk on board may assist with more positive engagements between the two countries, said the people familiar with the discussions.

Starlink's technology, which relies on a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites, would be a potential game-changer for South African users who've historically faced expensive or unreliable internet options. Only 1.7% of rural households have access to the internet, according to a 2023 survey compiled by Statistics South Africa.

Recent survey findings from the South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR) show that the African National Congress (ANC) faces significant risks if it does not realign its policies to meet the electorate's demands.

On Tuesday, IRR head of strategic communications Hermann Pretorius unpacked the organisation's 2025 opinion survey, which said registered voters showed preferences for merit-based policies, job creation and value-for-money government spending over race-based initiatives.

This survey was conducted between March 27 and April 3, 2025, with 807 respondents, to assess public opinion on various socioeconomic issues and political preferences.

Pretorius said the findings indicated that the ANC policies were misaligned with voter preferences.

He explained that there was broad support for voucher-based empowerment policies over traditional affirmative action and black economic empowerment frameworks, which he said suggested a shift towards individual choice in empowerment strategies.

This preference, he said, was particularly strong among younger voters and those in economically disadvantaged areas.

He believes that the ANC risks alienating voters by sticking to "outdated" race-based policies.

The findings also pointed to 73% of ANC supporters favouring merit-based appointments; 65% preferring value-for-money procurement over racial targets, while 79% oppose the Expropriation Act.

Pretorius pointed out that the strong opposition to the Expropriation Act, indicated concerns over property rights among voters.

This sentiment, he said, reflected a broader desire for policies that protected individual ownership.

The controversial Expropriation Bill signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this year has been met with criticism from some opposition parties and civil society, and has been the catalyst for US President Donald Trump's decision to terminate all United States Agency for International Development aid to South Africa.

He explained that a strong majority of South Africans prefered merit-based hiring over race-based quotas, saying this indicated a desire for fairness in employment practices.

"This preference is consistent across various demographic and political groups. Eight-four percent of voters favour merit-based hiring. Support for merit spans all racial and income groups. Only 16% support race-first hiring policies," he said.

He pointed out that ANC supporters indicated 73% preference for merit, which he said showed a disconnect in ANC policies.

Pretorius said South Africans overwhelmingly supported value-for-money procurement practices over race-based targets, emphasising the need for cost-effective government spending.

He explained that this preference was evident across all demographics and party affiliations, noting that 81.7% of voters prefer procurement based on cost and quality.

Only 16.6% support paying a premium for racial targets, while 65% of ANC supporters favour value-for-money procurement, he added.

Pretorius also pointed to the majority of South Africans prioritising job creation over expanding welfare programmes, noting that this indicated a desire for opportunities rather than dependency.

He highlighted that this preference was particularly strong among ANC supporters.

Pretorius said voters wanted policies that unlocked job creation and safeguarded property rights, noting that the ANC's current policies were opposed by most of its own supporters.

He said a shift towards pro-growth, merit-driven policies was essential for electoral survival, and that political parties must adapt to the electorate's preferences to remain relevant.

Meanwhile, unemployment and job creation remained the top priority for South Africans, significantly overshadowing other concerns.

"This consensus spans across various demographic groups, highlighting the urgency for effective job creation policies. 29.4% of voters prioritise job creation as the top issue. Other concerns like illegal immigration (9.1%) and crime (8.5...

President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday that dealing with the memory of past atrocities is one of the most difficult and delicate tasks a nation can undertake, but noted that it can be a vital cathartic process if a country is committed to enhance national healing, cohesion and unity.

In his weekly letter to the nation, Ramaphosa said the way a country remembered its painful past could shape the character of its democracy, the legitimacy of its institutions and the resilience of its people.

Ramaphosa is in the process of establishing a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate allegations of interference in the investigation and prosecution of apartheid-era crimes referred by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

"As government we remain steadfast in our commitment to restoring the dignity of activists who died and were buried abroad, and to our countrymen and women who were subjected to indignities in foreign lands," he said.

He noted that this was being done within legal frameworks such as the National Heritage Resources Act.

"This framework facilitated the repatriation of Sara Baartman's remains for burial in South Africa in 2002. We have also developed a draft National Policy on the Repatriation and Restitution of Human Remains and Heritage Objects which will guide our efforts going forward," he explained.

Over the past weekend government reburied the remains of anti-apartheid struggle hero and former African National Congress secretary-general Advocate Duma Nokwe, who died in exile in Zambia in 1978.

Nokwe was the first black advocate to be admitted to the Johannesburg Bar, and was a defendant and a member of the defence team in the treason trial of 1956.

In recognition of his contribution to the legal fraternity, government conferred him the status of senior counsel posthumously.

Nokwe was one of 42 former liberation activists who passed away in exile and whose remains were repatriated from Zambia and Zimbabwe in September last year.

"We are grateful for the countries that gave our people shelter and support in exile and provided a resting place for those who died before they could return home. Many families in this country lost their loved ones to apartheid brutality and live with these scars. The apartheid regime even pursued activists that had fled the country and their whereabouts remain unknown," he said.

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and other government institutions continue to engage with several countries to facilitate the return of human remains.

Ramaphosa stated that government had advanced policies of restitution and redress to both acknowledge and correct the historical injustice of apartheid, noting that it remained equally committed to restoring the dignity of apartheid's countless victims and to bringing closure to their families.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has designated Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe as the Acting President of South Africa from May 18 to 22.

Ramaphosa and Deputy President Paul Mashatile will undertake simultaneous working visits to the US and France respectively.

Ramaphosa left on Monday, for his trip to the US, where he is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump, to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of interest.

The trip comes after the US administration welcomed 59 white South Africans, as the first batch of Afrikaners to be granted "refugee status" by Trump, supported by the belief that they had been persecuted and amid claims of genocide.

Mashatile's visit to France, is aimed at strengthening relations between the two countries and aims to mobilise investments.

Mashatile is accompanied by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi; Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams; Transport Minister Barbara Creecy; Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie; Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille; International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Alvin Botes; Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Buti Manamela; Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister Zuko Godlimpi and Electricity and Energy Minister Samantha Graham-Mare.

Ahead of the planned diplomatic engagement between US President Donald Trump and President Cyril Ramaphosa, Minister of Agriculture and Government of National Unity (GNU) coalition partner Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen said his priority will be to secure trade relations between the US and South Africa.

Steenhuisen, International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola, Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni and Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau will accompany Ramaphosa on Monday.

Ramaphosa will meet with Trump at the White House, in Washington DC on Wednesday, to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of interest, following strained relations between both countries, largely owing to unsubstantiated allegations of genocide against and land confiscation from white communities in South Africa.

Steenhuisen said his focus will be agriculture, job protection, growing the economy and expanding employment opportunities.

Steenhuisen pointed out that South Africa's relationship with the US was one of immense importance, noting that preferential trade agreements such as African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) contributed significantly to the country's economy.

"Losing these benefits would be disastrous for farmers, farm workers and the economy at large. Relationships between countries are never simple. We cannot pretend that we are not facing unique challenges in our country. This delegation to Washington DC represents all South Africans, who have entrusted us to put the shared national interests, and desire for economic growth and job creation first, ahead of any party, or ideological positions," he highlighted.

He said as a member of the GNU delegation, he would endeavour to ensure every effort was made to mend and improve relations between the US and South Africa.

"There is a renewed hope among South Africans, thanks to the formation of the GNU, and we dare not fail them on our mission to increase economic growth, and job opportunities for all South Africans," he said.

Meanwhile, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) called for the resumption of a Binational Commission, noting that this would ensure a "credible and forward-looking path" for South Africa and the US.

UDM president Bantu Holomisa argued that a renewed Binational Commission could serve as a meaningful platform to address the current misunderstandings and to create space for practical cooperation.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) announced on Friday that former Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Renaldo Gouws has agreed to participate in workshops, public education, awareness activities and a diversity sensitisation session, as part of a settlement agreement.

The SAHRC has settled a complaint against Gouws relating to a video he published in 2010, which contained racially offensive and harmful language directed at black South Africans.

Following the video's resurfacing in 2024 and subsequent complaints submitted to the commission by members of the public, the SAHRC instituted proceedings against Gouws before the Equality Court.

The commission highlighted that the matter had since been settled through the commission's alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process, noting the terms of settlement, which it said included a full and unconditional public apology, which Gouws had issued.

The commission welcomed Gouws's acknowledgment of the impact of his past conduct and reiterated that the right to freedom of expression must be exercised in a manner that respects the dignity and equality of all people.

In his apology, Gouws maintained that former African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema's singing of the 'Kill the Boer; Kill the farmer' song was "insensitive, offensive, divisive and deeply hurtful towards Afrikaners", particularly to those affected by violent crime in rural areas.

However, he said he acknowledged now that his critique of this was "insensitive, offensive, divisive and deeply hurtful towards black people."

He admitted that it was "unacceptable" for him to have used violent language to make his point.

"I accept now that these racial slurs have been correctly declared by the Constitutional Court to be unutterable and racist. Further in the video, I described Julius Malema as "an ignorant little f*cking black idiot" and referred to those who sang along with him as "f*cking barbaric people", he said.

In the same video, he claimed that some of the policies introduced in democratic South Africa constituted "a new apartheid", where there was a racial "double standard", and "the black people are singing about killing the white people".

He maintained his political view that affirmative action and black empowerment were not being implemented in a "fair and constructive" way in South Africa.

"…however, I now acknowledge that they cannot be equated with apartheid, which was a crime against humanity that stripped black people of any meaningful opportunities in political, economic, social and cultural spheres of life, and was maintained by, among other measures, the murder, disappearance and arbitrary detention of political dissidents on the instructions of the State," he pointed out.

Gouws acknowledged that the language he used in that video was "unacceptable, degrading to black people and harmful to social cohesion".

He apologised unreservedly to South Africans for the racial invective he expressed in the video itself, and for taking years to take full responsibility for it.

Gouws stated that he despised racism in all its forms and had always been committed to building a true non-racial South Africa.

Last year, the DA terminated Gouws's membership, following a decision taken by the Federal Executive.

DA national spokesperson Willie Aucamp, at the time said the party's Federal Legal Commission undertook an investigation following reports of alleged racial utterances aired in Gouws's online media posts.

The commission said it had found Gouws guilty of contravening the party's constitution.

The party said the decision to terminate Gouws's membership was unanimous. He lost his Parliamentary seat, as a result.

LACKLUSTRE

Meanwhile, the GOOD Party described Gouws's apology as "lacklustre at best", saying it read as a "curriculum vitae of the work he has done and attempts to downplay, rather than atone for, his actions".

The party said it believed this was a "half-hearted and insincere apology".

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US Department of State principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott has asserted that the first batch of South African Afrikaners to be granted "refugee" status meet the same standard that is applied for all refugees, stressing US President Donald Trump's "concerns" about South Africa, although he failed to provide evidence of a genocide.

The US administration this week welcomed 59 white South Africans, as the first batch of Afrikaners to be granted "refugee status" by Trump, supported by the belief that they had been persecuted and amid claims of genocide.

Relations between the US and South Africa have been strained since early this year, with Trump ending funding for critical health programmes owing to his disapproval of South Africa's land policies and its case against Israel in the International Court of Justice.

Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that he will hold talks with Trump, in the US, next week in an attempt to reset relations.

Addressing journalists in a press briefing on Thursday, Pigott noted that there were certain criteria and standards for refugee status in the US.

He said the standard was uniform "across the board".

"They [white South Africans] have met the standard that is applicable by the . . . applicable for those refugees. We have seen that process play out. This has been a priority for the President. And again, just looking at this scenario, we have heard harrowing stories here. That is what is at issue here, the fact that these people have gone through certain conditions. We have seen that standard for refugees applied. They have gone through this process. It's a priority from the President, and that's why we're seeing the actions that were taken," he asserted.

When pressed by journalists about the US administration's consideration of genocide in South Africa and any evidence the US had to support this, Pigott deflected questions to past utterances made by Trump on the matter, repeating Trump's concerns regarding South Africa and the treatment of Afrikaners in South Africa.

"Well, this has been a concern that the President's had for a very long time. He's been clear about that for years about the abuses we are seeing in South Africa. So, this is a priority outlined by the President. The President then directed the State Department and others to implement that priority, and we're seeing the State Department fulfil those executive orders," he said.

When asked repeatedly to provide evidence of alleged genocide in South Africa against white South Africans, Pigott instead pointed to "harrowing" stories made by the so-called refugees about the treatment that they suffered.

"…so, what we are seeing is a problem that's been identified by the President and the State Department fulfilling those executive orders. So again, we have heard these stories that have come through. The refugees there met the same statute for refugees that is uniform and standard, and that'll continue to - to implement the President's priorities in this regard," he explained.

Journalists questioned why white South Africans received an "accelerated refugee process", to which Pigott stressed Trump's "concerns with South Africa", which he said led to a priority that was fulfilled by the US administration.

Pigott was asked if the decision to expedite the refugee process for the South Africans were as a result of "racial reasoning", given that there are many people of colour not being allowed into the US as refugees despite also meeting the criteria, and he once again spoke of "harrowing stories", "a priority from the President" and an application of standards for refugees.

The head of South Africa's second-biggest political party said talks about the nation's revamped budget are "are going very, very well," a signal that the coalition government is resolving differences that derailed the National Treasury's previous tax and spending proposals.

"We had a wonderful presentation by the minister of finance," on a third iteration of the budget, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen told reporters at the Nampo Harvest Day expo in the central Free State province on Friday. "I think we're certainly getting there."

"There really a sense of collaboration and working together to put on the table a credible budget that will be a strong stable platform for us to go out and seek confidence from our investors and also to start growing the economy and creating jobs here in South Africa," he added.

Steenhuisen's comments follow an assertion by Deputy Finance Minister David Masondo, on Thursday that he is "very confident that we're not going to have budget 4.0," and that lawmakers will approve the proposals in parliament May 21.

Last year's election failed to produce an outright winner, with the African National Congress (ANC) setting up a 10-party coalition in June, a month the vote in which it lost parliamentary majority it had held since apartheid ended in 1994.

The DA and African National Congress have since February sparred over issues including the National Treasury's proposal to hike value-added tax - all of which raised questions about the alliance's durability.

Tensions escalated last month, when the ANC enlisted the backing of parties that aren't part of the coalition to pass the fiscal framework - legislation that underpins the budget - after the DA withheld its support. The DA then filed a lawsuit contesting the adoption of the legislation on procedural grounds.

The Treasury backed down, saying it would scrap the planned VAT hike, cut spending to fill a R75 billion gap in the budget over the next three years, and seek to settle the court case with the DA.

South Africa's deputy finance minister said next week's national budget is set to secure approval from lawmakers, after two previous iterations were scrapped because of disagreements within the governing coalition over taxes.

"I'm very confident that we're not going to have budget 4.0," David Masondo said at an event in Cape Town on Thursday, a view that was based on talks the National Treasury has had with the Democratic Alliance (DA), the coalition's second-largest member, and other parties. "I'm 100% certain that we'll get it over the line."

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will present a third version of the budget in Cape Town on May 21.

The DA objected to plans to hike value-added tax, triggering standoffs over previous drafts. That raised investor fears that the business-friendly party might leave the government, which could provide an entry point for leftist groups like the Economic Freedom Fighters to join and place economic reforms in jeopardy.

Godongwana withdrew the proposed tax increase on April 24, leaving the alliance intact.

Masondo's comments were backed up by Dean McPherson, a DA member and minister of public works and infrastructure.

"I'm fairly confident that there will be agreement on budget 3," he said in an interview at an event near Bothaville in the central Free State province on Thursday. "I think the political leaders have done a lot of work to bring people close together. I also think the lessons that's been learned, there's got to be compromise, there's got to be give and take. We will see what happens next week, but I'm more hopeful and optimistic than I was previously."

A 10-party alliance took power after elections last year in which the African National Congress lost its outright majority for the first time since White-minority rule ended in 1994. Its formation was heralded as a chance to boost job creation and feeble growth after years of under-performance.

Lawmakers and the Treasury face a tight deadline to complete the budget process, which legally must be wrapped up by the end of July. After Godongwana tables his proposals, parliamentary committees will have to adopt reports on related legislation that must be voted on by the National Assembly.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will attend the budget presentation remotely because he is travelling to the US for talks with his American counterpart Donald Trump.

Masondo also announced that the Treasury and the central bank are working on an appropriate inflation framework for South Africa, with an announcement to be made soon.

The rand gained as much as 1.1% against the dollar after he made those comments, while the yield on benchmark 2035 government bonds fell seven basis points to 10.48% - the lowest on a closing basis since March 5.

The bank's current inflation-target band is 3% to 6%, but Governor Lesetja Kganyago has repeatedly said that a single-point target of 3% would be in line with South Africa's peers and allow for lower interest rates.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will travel to the United States on a working visit next week and will meet US President Donald Trump on May 21, Ramaphosa's office said in a statement late on Wednesday.

"President Ramaphosa will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington DC to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of interest," South Africa's presidency said.

"The president's visit to the US provides a platform to reset the strategic relationship between the two countries," the statement added.

Relations between South Africa and the US have soured significantly since Trump returned to the White House in January.

Trump has cut all US financial assistance to South Africa, citing disapproval of its land reform policy and of its genocide case at the International Court of Justice against Washington's ally Israel.

This week the Trump administration welcomed 49 white South Africans it has granted refugee status, having deemed them victims of racial discrimination.

South Africa maintains there is no evidence of persecution of white people in the country and Ramaphosa has said the US government "has got the wrong end of the stick".

The United States is South Africa's second-largest bilateral trading partner after China.