Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi has written to the chairperson of the portfolio committee, Khusela Sangoni-Diko, to “set the record straight” regarding the furore over Resolve Communications and Starlink.
Image: Facebook/Department of Communications & Digital Technologies.
Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, has defended his engagements between Resolve Communications and Starlink as a normal part of his job in a recently published letter, titled “Setting The Record Straight”.
Malatsi responded to the chairperson of the portfolio committee, Khusela Sangoni-Diko, after she requested clarity on allegations regarding reported engagements between Resolve Communications, Starlink and himself.
In a recent interview, demoted minister John Steenhuisen made claims regarding the involvement of Tony Leon’s Resolve Communications in facilitating engagements between members of the government and private sector clients, including Elon Musk's Starlink.
Starlink is a satellite internet service which beams broadband from thousands of low-orbit satellites and is used in more than 100 countries. It is not licensed to operate in SA because local law requires telecoms operators to be at least 30% owned by historically disadvantaged South Africans, a requirement Starlink has refused to meet.
In her letter, Sangoni-Diko noted that the allegations, which remain untested, are of a serious nature. On Sunday afternoon, Malatsi published his letter, which he had sent to the chairperson.
He explained that it is part of his electoral mandate and an agreed position of the Government of National Unity (GNU) for him to provide policy reform contributions to the Medium Term Development Policy (MTDP).
“The work on my ministry’s policy reform contributions to the MTDP began between July and August 2024. As I am sure you would agree, it is impossible to be unduly influenced to do something one is already doing.
“I would also point out that, to date, I have met with MzansiSat, Amazon Leo, China Satellite Network Company (CSNC), Spacesail, Space24, Starlink and other stakeholders advocating for Low Earth Orbit Satellites (LEOs).
“None of these meetings discussed individual license applications. Such meetings are always about understanding each entity’s capabilities and sharing insights about the country’s current regulatory dispensation,” Malatsi said.
He said that as ministers, they are constantly approached by stakeholders, who contact them directly or through third parties, on different matters. He added that there are also occasions in which MPs approach him with suggestions to meet stakeholders, which is “a normal, and indeed essential, part of being in government”.
“Engagements with stakeholders may broaden my perspective on issues, but they do not dictate my decision-making. I always make decisions without fear or favour, guided by the constitution, the law and the mandate I have from the voters.”
On the matter of Resolve Communications, he said that Steenhuisen’s interview “alleges neither that I met with Resolve Communications nor that it facilitated any meeting with Starlink”.
He said Resolve Communications has approached his office on two separate occasions to bring my attention to matters affecting some stakeholders in the digital communications space.
The first occasion resulted in a meeting with Premiums Ideas SA (PISA), a South African company specialising in SIM-card packaging and logistics. The second was in June 2025 with a request regarding Hot 102.7 FM’s license amendment application to ICASA.
“I have also interacted with Resolve’s CEO, Paul Boughey, at least twice telephonically since my appointment. The first was regarding the PISA matter shared above, and the second was in relation to his query about accessing the published copy of the Government Gazette that contained the policy directive,” Malatsi said.
Former DA leader and founder of Resolve Communications Tony Leon.
Image: Sibusiso Ndlovu/African news agency (ANA) Archives
He described Boughey’s query as mundane. About Starlink, he met with a representative of SpaceX, Starlink’s parent company, Ryan Goodnight, once in September 2024, where he was joined by his Chief of Staff.
“The meeting was facilitated directly between my office and Robert Appelbaum. I have been transparent about having met with Starlink, including openly speaking about it in an interview.
“This was an introductory meeting as part of my broader and ongoing effort to understand the impact of LEOs in accelerating access to broadband connectivity, and, as mentioned previously, I have also met with a great number of other players in this space,” Malatsi said.
He said President Cyril Ramaphosa himself has met with Elon Musk and when queried about this meeting and whether the issue of Starlink’s license will be discussed, Ramaphosa's spokesperson responded by saying “certainly, the issue will be discussed”.
Leon also hit back at claims that his communications company has extensively engaged in state capture.
“The meeting (with Starlink) was set up and ostensibly really just turned into a complaint session that Solly (Malatsi) wasn’t moving fast enough and the like. So I then raised within my caucus the unhappiness around what I thought was behaviour that would, if we didn’t check it, end up being problematic at some stage.”