Malatsi says Resolve never tried to set up meeting with Starlink

Communications Minister Solly Malatsi has denied that Resolve Communications ever sought to arrange a meeting between him and Starlink, saying interactions with the firm were limited and did not involve the satellite internet provider.

Minister outlines limited contact with Resolve

Speaking to Newzroom Afrika on Tuesday, Malatsi said his office had interacted with Resolve Communications on only two occasions, and “neither of which involved Starlink.”

Two specific interactions

Malatsi described the first interaction as relating to Premium Ideas South Africa, a company involved in SIM card packaging. He said Resolve requested a meeting about concerns over the proliferation of unregistered SIM cards and the risks they pose to public safety and crime prevention, and that the “meeting took place with the company, without a Resolve present.”

The second interaction involved a licence amendment application for a commercial radio station. Malatsi said his department “referred the matter to ICASA because ICASA is the authority responsible for such applications, and that is where our engagement with Resolve ended.”

Other contact and awareness

He said the only other contact was when Resolve’s chief executive requested access to a government gazette outlining the department’s draft policy on equity equivalent investment programmes, and that his office created a platform for stakeholders to obtain the gazette.

Malatsi rejected suggestions that Resolve had lobbied him on Starlink’s behalf, saying:

“Resolve Communications has never tried to facilitate an engagement between me and Starlink.”

He also told reporters he had “never had an interaction with Resolve about Starlink” and that he only became aware that John Steenhuisen had met Starlink representatives after watching a podcast. On Steenhuisen’s interview he said:

“I’ve listened to the interview John did and, as you correctly point out, he never mentioned my name in relation to a meeting or any undue pressure.”

Licensing and boundaries

Malatsi emphasised that licensing decisions fall to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and said:

“I would never enter into discussions with anyone about an individual licence application because that would be crossing the line of where my responsibilities end.”

Wider scrutiny and responses

The article notes that Resolve Communications, founded by former Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon, has faced scrutiny after allegations from former DA leader John Steenhuisen about the firm’s meetings on behalf of clients, and that Leon and Resolve have denied wrongdoing. Parliament has asked Malatsi to explain his reported interactions involving Resolve and Starlink. Other figures cited in reporting include former Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille and former DA MP Dion George, and several organisations have called for investigations into Resolve’s dealings with government officials.

None of the allegations referenced in the reporting have been proven and no findings of wrongdoing have been made.