Starlink’s illegal equipment seized Icasa chairperson, Mothibi Ramusi, told Newzroom Afrika on Tuesday that they had conducted an investigation in the Northern Cape and had written to SpaceX to confirm that its services were being used in South Africa. “Upon hearing all these issues, we actually went out on an investigation in the Northern Cape. We confiscated equipment which related to SpaceX, the company that owns Starlink. “Anyone found in this country providing a service without the required authority, it’s illegal. So, this company, IcasaSePush, has been providing equipment, and obviously, they have a commercial agreement with SpaceX,” said Ramusi. SpaceX’s response Ramusi added that Icasa has written to SpaceX on 21 May 2025 to get confirmation regarding claims that people were using Starlink illegally in South Africa. “SpaceX has since responded, and I must say that the response worried me as well as a chair[person], because whilst they recognise that operating in a country without proper permits, is not permissible the company IcasaSePush, they (SpaceX) indicated to us as an authority that they’ve now instructed them to seize operating or even distributing any equipment that is aligned to their business, especially in this country”. Internet With its wide coverage and increasing affordability, Starlink offers an opportunity to bridge the connectivity gap in rural areas while also appealing to urban users. Starlink operates thousands of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites to provide high-speed internet globally.