CAPET condemns Minister’s ‘reckless’ policy shift to accommodate Elon Musk

THE Centre for Alternative Political and Economic Thought (CAPET) has issued a scathing condemnation of the DA-led Ministry of Communication’s move to relax South Africa’s ICT policies, allegedly to favour billionaire Elon Musk, a US-based investor who has repeatedly spread false and damaging propaganda about the country.

In a strongly worded statement, CAPET denounced Musk’s baseless claims of “genocide” against white South Africans as “not only deceitful but a deliberate assault on our country’s sovereignty and social cohesion”. The think tank warned that the DA’s apparent willingness to bend laws for Musk’s benefit was “an insult to the intelligence of all South Africans”.

CAPET questioned whether Musk’s inflammatory rhetoric, amplified by AfriForum’s overseas lobbying, was part of a calculated strategy to pressure the government into granting his satellite venture, Starlink, preferential treatment.

“Was Musk’s inflammatory rhetoric, amplified by AfriForum’s relentless lobbying and overseas campaigns, part of a transactional strategy to strong-arm South Africa into granting Starlink preferential treatment?” the statement read.

The organisation also cautioned white farmers against being exploited by those repurposing their grievances for ulterior motives.

“The sudden repurposing of their grievances into a false ‘genocide’ narrative, now serving as leverage for Elon Musk’s business ambitions, exposes cruel opportunism,” CAPET said. “It appears that the grievances were never about justice; they were and remain bargaining chips for a billionaire’s profit.”

CAPET urged the ANC-led Government of National Unity (GNU) to investigate whether Musk’s claims and backchannel US engagements were “a calculated bargaining tool for Musk’s corporate interests”.

“Our sovereignty cannot be compromised for those who peddle lies to manipulate our country’s policies,” the statement read.

The organisation also took aim at the DA, accusing the party of attempting to “capture our State” under the guise of ethical governance.

CAPET warned that if the Communications Minister proceeds with relaxing policies in Musk’s favour — undermining Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) — the organisation would take the matter to court.

“If the Minister proceeds with this unjustifiable relaxation of policies, effectively privileging Musk’s interests over South Africa’s transformative imperatives like BBBEE, CAPET will not hesitate to take the matter to court,” the statement read. “We will list both the Minister and President Cyril Ramaphosa as respondents to ensure accountability at the highest level.”

The think tank defended BBBEE as “South Africa’s most effective mechanism for integrating marginalised Black businesses, professionals, and entrepreneurs into the mainstream economy.” It cited black entrepreneur Dafita Madisa’s observation that the black middle class and small-business owners were driving transformative investment in townships and rural areas.

“Their millions, not Musk’s, are suburbanising villages and creating shared prosperity,” CAPET stated. “To relax BBBEE for a billionaire who slandered our country would betray these hard workers while rewarding bad faith.”

CAPET called on the ANC to assert its mandate as the leader of the GNU, rejecting any policy shifts that undermine economic sovereignty. “The people of South Africa did not vote for the DA to act as proxies for Elon Musk,” the statement read.

The organisation concluded with a defiant message: “America can keep Elon Musk, but South Africa rejects his hypocrisy, his arrogance, and his economic opportunism.”