Mere days after a high-stakes meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump, South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies announced the gazetting of potential amendments to the  in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. The move has drawn mixed reactions, with some political parties welcoming the changes while others warn of national security risks and legal challenges.

The  praised the proposed amendments, stating they could bring  to internet provision in South Africa. The party has long criticized delays in updating ICT legislation, arguing that outdated policies have hindered economic access for many citizens.

“The historic lack of political will to amend legislation has delayed our development,” the DA said in a statement. “We call on all South Africans to make their views known and ensure their voices are heard during this historic period.”

In contrast, the  strongly opposed the amendments, claiming they  to favor foreign companies like , owned by billionaire Elon Musk.

The EFF labeled the proposal a  alleging that Musk has manipulated laws through “disinformation” and undue influence over US leadership.

“To surrender our telecommunications capabilities to someone who has accused our country of genocide is a threat to our nation,” the EFF stated, vowing to challenge the amendments in Parliament and the courts.

Meanwhile, the  chairperson of Parliament’s Communications and Digital Technology portfolio committee, Khusela Diko, raised concerns on social media platform , suggesting that proper procedures may not have been followed in gazetting the proposal.

The party has called for an  of the gazette, demanding  on stakeholder consultations and a Parliamentary review before further steps are taken.

Despite the heated debate, analysts note that the proposed amendments are still in the early stages and face a lengthy legislative process before implementation.