MTN to release sustainability report

Johannesburg, 05 Sept 2003

MTN will release the first comprehensive report on its sustainable development performance alongside its annual business report on 8 September.

The report, which is guided by the King II Code on Corporate Governance, focuses on the nature and extent of the group`s economic, social and environmental performance.

It looks at the performance of MTN`s individual operations and addresses country-specific concerns and the challenges, such as economic empowerment, employment equity, corporate social investment, environmental management and HIV/AIDS.

"Our experience and what the report highlights is that, in approaching sustainable development, business models of one country cannot simply be replicated in another. Instead, we need to ensure that local solutions, grounded in global principles, are achieved," says Phuthuma Nhleko, MTN`s CEO.

"If we are to be true to our commitment to Africa, we need to invest in a manner that takes into account the expectations of stakeholders and contributes appropriately to the social, economic and environmental sustainability of the communities we serve."

The report will be available electronically at www.mtngroup.com.

New appointment

Noel Meier has been appointed by the MTN Group as CEO of MTN Uganda. He takes over the reins from Tom Bragaw, who led the company through its implementation phase.

According to an MTN spokesman, Bragaw has reached the end of his contract, although there is a strong likelihood he will remain available to the organisation in one capacity or another.

Meier, who began his career with the SA Department of Posts & Telecommunications, moved from Telkom SA to MTN as regional general manager in 1995, soon after the launch of mobile services in SA.

In 1998, he was given the job of heading up the implementation teams tasked with the establishment of MTN`s GSM operations in Rwanda and Uganda, where - as acting CEO for both operations - he successfully initiated the start-up.

Since then, he has gained further experience as CEO of MTN Swaziland, which reaches over 80% of the population and is ranked as one of the top most mobile penetrated countries in Africa.

"Noel Meier`s achievements and extensive knowledge gained to date has been invaluable to the MTN. I have no doubt that he will continue to add value to the group`s Ugandan operations," says Campbell Utton, chairman of MTN Uganda.