The Democratic Alliance (DA) will today submit a request for pertinent documents from MTN with regards to its business dealings in Iran in terms of the Protection of Access to Information Act (PAIA).
This follows allegations of bribery and corruption that were recently made against the cellphone operator by Turkcell. The Istanbul-based operator has filed a $4.2 billion lawsuit in a US federal court against MTN, which it accuses of illegal acquisition of its GSM licence in Iran in 2004. MTN owns a 49% stake in Iran's second cellphone operator, Irancell.
DA shadow minister of defence and military veterans, David Maynier, now intends to write to MTN Group CEO Sifiso Dabengwa to gain access to documents that may shed light on allegations that have emerged from the lawsuit, including the infringement of human rights on the part of MTN in Iran.
“The allegations suggest that the MTN Group may have undertaken to provide access to its devices by agreeing to facilitate the installation of eavesdropping technology on its devices in Iran.”
In its defence, MTN says it “seeks to ensure that our corporate values of respect for human rights are reflected in the way we do business”. To this end the group has a “Board Social and Ethics Committee”.
Truth pursuit
This afternoon, Maynier will hand over correspondence requesting documents from MTN in terms of the PAIA act. He says he will request copies of all records in MTN's possession that relate to possible human rights violations in Iran, as well as copies of all records in the MTN Group's Social and Ethics Committee relating to Iran.
“If the MTN Group has nothing to hide, the company should have no problem handing over copies of the records relating to its business dealings in Iran,” says Maynier.
MTN spokesperson Xolisa Vapi says the operator cannot say much at this stage. “Suffice it to say, we have heard the reports that the DA will be requesting information, but have not yet received the document. When we receive it, we will consider the content and decide on the best way to respond to it.”
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