Elon Musk Mocks South Africa Now He’s Getting Paid: GNU’s Starlink Deal Sparks Outrage

🧵 BREAKING: Elon Musk Mocks South Africa, Now He’s Getting Paid, Starlink Deal Sparks Outrage

In a twist that has left South Africans reeling, Elon Musk, the billionaire tech mogul who recently took jabs at the country's state of affairs, appears set to benefit from a lucrative agreement with the very nation he insulted.

📌 Here’s what happened:

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla and founder of Starlink, took to X (formerly Twitter) earlier this year to express disdain over South Africa’s energy crises, governance, and social issues. Many found his remarks dismissive and bordering on offensive, especially given his South African roots.

“The country is falling apart. It’s heartbreaking,” Musk tweeted in response to a user referencing Eskom blackouts and political instability. He later added, “Glad I left when I did.”

His remarks were met with fierce backlash from South Africans who felt betrayed by one of their own, someone born in Pretoria who built his early dreams on the soil of the nation now bearing the brunt of his sarcasm.

Yet despite the criticism, Musk is now reportedly finalizing a Starlink rollout deal in South Africa, one that could open the floodgates to millions in revenue, and possibly, tax benefits or government support.

💰 A Sweet Deal Amid the Smoke

According to insiders close to the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, South Africa is preparing to allow Starlink to legally operate across its territory through a local partnership structure. This comes after months of regulatory stalling due to requirements around local ownership.

But recent developments suggest a workaround is in progress, one that benefits Starlink immensely while raising uncomfortable questions about national loyalty, accountability, and who gets rewarded in South Africa’s chaotic digital landscape.

👥 Public Reaction, Disbelief and Betrayal

News of the impending deal has left many South Africans feeling deeply conflicted.

“We’re bending over backwards to welcome back a man who publicly ridiculed us?” tweeted @NomsaWrites

“So you get to insult the country, then profit from it? Cool. Got it,” posted user @ZukoZulu

Others, however, argued that Starlink’s internet services could be transformative, especially for rural education, remote work, and digital inclusion in underserved regions.

“Hate him or love him, Starlink might be the only way some of our kids get decent internet access,” said tech analyst Buhle Maseko

⚠️ Racism Allegations and Deepening Divisions

The controversy around Musk runs deeper than just infrastructure. Critics point out how his public commentary often aligns with narratives that portray post-apartheid South Africa as a failed state, with little acknowledgment of its complex racial history or the legacy of inequality that shaped it. For many, Musk’s tone reinforces a colonial mindset, where Black leadership is equated with failure and white departure is seen as wisdom.

“When Musk talks about 'leaving at the right time,' it sounds like a dog whistle to apartheid nostalgia,” said political commentator Lwazi Mhlongo.

Others recall Musk’s history of dodging questions on race or minimizing the impact of apartheid. His father, Errol Musk, owned part of an emerald mine during apartheid, and Elon has often been dismissive when asked about the privileges that background gave him.

This has led to growing divisions between those who see Musk as a self-made tech hero and those who see him as an opportunist who escaped South Africa's struggle, only to weaponize its dysfunction for profit and global validation.

🧠 The Bigger Picture

Musk has never been shy about his views on South Africa. His past comments on crime, corruption, and infrastructure failures have oscillated between legitimate critique and dismissive scorn. Critics say the Starlink deal sets a dangerous precedent, it signals that billionaires can insult a nation and still walk away with its riches.

And for a country like South Africa, still battling digital inequality, power crises, and youth unemployment, this isn’t just about internet satellites. It’s about dignity.

📡 What’s Next?

The Starlink agreement has not yet been publicly signed, but sources say a formal announcement is expected within weeks. The deal will likely involve a South African intermediary company, as per ICASA requirements.

Until then, a storm brews on X, in Parliament, and in townships and suburbs alike, over whether this is a technological win or a moral loss.

🇿🇦 South Africa stands at a crossroads, does it embrace Elon Musk the innovator, or reject Elon Musk the critic?

Stay tuned.