MTN's controversial SMS competition is again in the headlines, this time because a Polokwane-based couple claims the idea was theirs, and are suing the cellular provider for “millions”.
Emily Dimbi Mahlangu, a government employee, and her partner, Olakunle Nathaniel Olamiju, who is self-employed, claim they came up with the idea two years ago, and then presented the concept to the cellular company. The Star reports the couple claims they presented the idea to MTN on 7 April.
The MTN15 competition was slammed as a profit-making vehicle by the Advertising Standards Authority of SA. In addition, the National Lotteries Board found the controversial MTN SMS competition was in contravention of the Lotteries Act.
It was a quiz-based system, where entrants answered trivia via SMS to gain points, with SMSes costing R7.50 each. The more points accumulated, the more likely the entrant was to win a prize.
In June, allegations were made indicating some of the competition winners had access to a list of entrants and each person's score. Several contestants have also indicated winners were possibly friends or family of someone at MTN. Over R6 million worth of prizes were won during the course of the competition.
Attorneys for the couple, Mothuloe Attorneys, referred all enquiries to Mahlangu, who was not available to comment. The Star reports that the law firm has served summons on MTN, claiming the competition idea was created by the Polokwane-based couple, and called the Know My Africa Competition.
MTN was not available to comment, but spokesperson Bridget Bhengu told the Star that the concept behind the MTN15 competition was presented to the company by Going Up on 17 September last year, before “any presentation from Mahlangu and Olamiju".
Share
