Bangladesh, March 8 -- Tech billionaire and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has ignited a heated debate over South Africas racial policies, claiming that his satellite internet service, Starlink, is not allowed to operate in the country because he is “not black.” The statement, made on X (formerly Twitter), has led to a sharp response from South African officials, who insist that race has nothing to do with the restrictions placed on Starlinks entry into the market.

Musks remarks were prompted by a podcast featuring South African businessman Rob Hersov, who argued that race-based laws in South Africa are “anti-white” and that the country has been “infected with an evil woke mind virus.” Musk, who was born in Pret...