SA Must Act Smart And Fast As Tech War Intensifies

The moment the minister in the presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, declared Chinese low orbit satellite tech superior to Elon Musk’s Starlink, she revealed more than personal bias, writes Gugu Lourie.

As Chinese smartphones flood our markets and Huawei’s towers, antennas and 5G tech dominate our skyline, we must ask: are we making strategic decisions or sleepwalking into digital dependency?

The reality is that South Africa faces stark choices. Walk into any South African home and you’ll find it powered by Chinese tech: routers, TV boxes, power banks, solar panels and soon electric vehicles.

Jonathan E Hillman, in his book, The Digital Silk Road: China’s Quest to Wire the World and Win the Future, warns that this isn’t accidental: China is systematically wiring the developing world, and we’re welcoming it with open arms.

Yet this embrace comes at a cost few dare to acknowledge.

The minister’s dismissal of Starlink under the guise of “transformation” appears hollow upon close examination.

While she champions untested Chinese alternatives, SpaceX satellites already beam internet services across Africa, just not here.

For more read: China v US in tech: can SA afford to pick sides?