South African-born tech titan Elon Musk is reportedly exploring plans to launch SpaceX rockets from his home country—an ambitious move that could position South Africa as a launchpad for the global space race.
Musk, the billionaire behind Tesla, SpaceX, and Starlink, is said to be considering the Denel Overberg Test Range near Arniston, Western Cape, as a potential site for orbital launches and satellite deployments. If the plan goes ahead, it would mark the first time SpaceX launches a rocket from African soil, a milestone with both symbolic and strategic weight.
The Denel Overberg site, currently used for suborbital tests, has reached altitudes of up to 18 kilometers. With orbital launches in its sights by 2028, insiders suggest a partnership with SpaceX could significantly fast-track its capabilities. Space experts say the site’s geographical positioning offers a prime location for polar orbit launches, including those that benefit Musk’s growing Starlink satellite internet network.
For Musk, the idea isn’t just a homecoming—it’s a calculated expansion. His Starlink project has already begun rolling out across parts of Africa, bringing high-speed internet to underserved communities in countries like Nigeria, Rwanda, and Kenya. But in South Africa, the very country of his birth, progress has stalled.
Red tape, regulatory hurdles, and ongoing questions around licensing and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) compliance have blocked Starlink’s rollout in the country. Musk hasn’t hidden his frustration either—taking to social media to call out South African officials and accusing the government of slowing innovation and excluding rural communities from access to affordable internet.
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The tensions intensified after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met with U.S. leaders in Washington. Not long after, Musk publicly criticized South Africa’s handling of Starlink approvals, prompting the government to promise a review of its B-BBEE policies—specifically how they apply to foreign tech firms.
Still, a rocket launch site on South African soil would change everything.
“This could be a game-changer for the continent,” said one aerospace analyst familiar with the discussions. “If Musk pulls this off, South Africa becomes more than a market—it becomes a strategic partner in a new space economy.”
Beyond Starlink’s connectivity ambitions, launching rockets from South Africa could mean billions in long-term investment. Experts predict growth in the country’s aerospace sector, job creation in high-tech manufacturing, and increased research opportunities for local universities and science institutions.
Though no official deal has been inked, sources close to the matter suggest talks are progressing and that Musk is “genuinely serious” about bringing part of his space empire home.
As the world watches the billionaire feud publicly with political leaders abroad—including a recent spat with U.S. President Donald Trump—his interest in investing in South Africa may also signal a broader shift: away from U.S. political drama and toward international partnerships grounded in long-term technological goals.
If the Overberg site gets the green light, it could place South Africa at the forefront of Africa’s space journey, while reconnecting the continent to one of its most famous sons, not through nostalgia, but through orbit.
