Who is affected?
Ordinary South Africans—particularly small, local ICT businesses, entrepreneurs, and historically disadvantaged communities — stand to lose the most if multinational corporations are allowed preferential treatment through politically manipulated policy processes.

The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies’ gazetted policy directive on Equity Equivalent Investment Programmes (EEIPs) threatens to displace genuine black economic empowerment initiatives and undermine decades of transformation efforts in the ICT sector. When backroom deals dictate who gets to operate in our market, we all pay the price — through diminished transparency, captured regulation, and eroded trust in democratic institutions.

What is at stake?
At stake is the very integrity of South Africa’s constitutional democracy and its commitment to the Rule of Law. If allowed to proceed, this directive could set a dangerous precedent — where powerful political and economic elites, including multinational billionaires and the richest South African interests, manipulate policy to serve private agendas at the expense of national interest.

This undermines not only economic transformation but also the independence of our policy-making apparatus. The credibility of Minister Solly Malatsi and President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office is on the line, especially in light of conflicting statements regarding international lobbying and licensing processes involving Starlink.

Why is now the time to act?
Now is the moment for urgent and unified civic action. The rapid gazetting of the directive — barely a day after President Ramaphosa’s denial of foreign lobbying discussions — raises red flags about regulatory capture and political deceit.

If citizens, civil society organisations, and ethical public servants do not raise their voices now, we risk allowing South Africa’s digital and economic future to be auctioned off behind closed doors.

We must demand transparency, halt the implementation of this policy directive, and call for a parliamentary inquiry into undue influence over ICT policymaking.

South Africa belongs to its people, not to the highest bidder.

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