The Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, has denied claims that his recently proposed amendment to the country’s BEE rules is meant to bend the country backwards and allow Elon Musk’s Starlink to operate without adherence.
Malatsi says that it was a mere coincidence that he announced the proposals on Friday last week, just a few days after President Cyril Ramaphosa had led a South African delegation to the White House, where the likes of Musk were present.
The minister was appearing before the parliamentary portfolio committee on communications and digital technologies, chaired by MP Khusela Diko where he faced grilling from several MPs.
The Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party’s MP, Thulani Shongwe stopped short of accusing Malatsi of selling out the country’s independence to Musk and US Donald Trump years after the battle on BEE was long won.
“The BEE requirements are legislated and it was a long battle to get the 30 percent which you now want to scrap to appease Starlink and foreign companies,” Shongwe said.
Joining the fray, the newly appointed MK Party’s Chief Whip, Colleen Mkhubele, echoed almost similar sentiments to Shongwe.
The EFF’s Naledo Chirwa was very specific and pointed out to Malatsi that the proposals which come with BEE equivalents are illegal and they should be scrapped.
Malasti defended his actions after heavy criticism by the MPs serving in the committee, saying the process to amend the policy started long ago.
“We would have not predicted that there would be a visit last week, but I make that point to showcase that there is no conspiracy on our part with regards to this policy direction. There is no underhanded effort in darkness to railroad this into the South African public.
“We have at all times communicated of the process publicly and we are comfortable that the stage we are in now is a legitimate stage which opens the process for the public and all stakeholders to make submissions on their views, and we will consider those views. We have to consider those views because we can’t preempt the final determination of how those public comments would be,” Malatsi told the committee.
He also shot calls for him to immediately vacate his position, saying he is still capable of doing his work.
