\u201cMTN has been approached, through its external US counsel, regarding a DoJ grand jury investigation,\u201d the company said in its half-year financial results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMTN is cooperating with the DoJ and voluntarily responding to requests for information. The Company will update the market as appropriate on any material developments in the matter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Project Snooker<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Phuthuma-Nhleko.jpg\")
Phuthuma Nhleko, former MTN CEO and chairman, who features prominently in the Project Snooker allegations brought by Turkcell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn addition to terrorism financing allegations, MTN has also been accused of bribing Iranian officials to obtain the country\u2019s first cellular network licence in 2004.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rival bidder Turkcell claimed that MTN bribed officials, arranged meetings for Iran with South African leaders, and promised Iran weapons and United Nations votes in exchange for the Irancell deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Court documents filed in the United States show that MTN referred to Iran as \u201cSnooker\u201d and its Iranian expansion as \u201cProject Snooker\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among Turkcell\u2019s allegations were that MTN had helped fund the travel of Iran\u2019s nuclear negotiator to meet former President Thabo Mbeki in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This allegedly led to South Africa abstaining from an International Atomic Energy Agency vote declaring Iran non-compliant with the Non-Proliferation Treaty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MTN has denied facilitating such meetings, bribing officials, or having any influence over South African government policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turkcell\u2019s original dispute with MTN is ongoing through its subsidiary, the East Asian Consortium (EAC). When they filed the case in South Africa, they sought damages of $4.2 billion (R75 billion), excluding interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Supreme Court of Appeal recently ruled that South African courts could hear some of EAC\u2019s complaints. MTN has applied for leave to appeal in the Constitutional Court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Geopolitical storm<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/SANDF-chief-General-Rudzani-Maphwanya-meeting-with-Chief-of-Staff-of-the-Iranian-Armed-Forces-Major-General-Abdolrahim-Mousavi.jpg\")
General Rudzani Maphwanya, chief of the SANDF, meeting with Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhile MTN has faced allegations of bribery, corruption, and enabling terrorist activity since 2012, the mobile operator now finds itself entwined in a larger geopolitical storm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order<\/a> in February 2025 that mentioned South Africa\u2019s \u201creinvigorated\u201d relations with Iran and genocide accusations against Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe order stated that South Africa and Iran were developing commercial, military, and nuclear arrangements \u2014 allegations that SANDF General Rudzani Maphwanya\u2019s recent visit to Iran did not assuage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iran\u2019s potential nuclear capabilities are a sensitive subject for the U.S. It bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In February 2025, following Trump\u2019s executive order, the group CEO of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, Loyiso Tyabashe, denied claims of nuclear cooperation between South Africa and Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to South Africa\u2019s relationship with Iran, Trump\u2019s executive order also criticised South Africa for bringing genocide charges against Israel, and not Hamas, at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The order stated that the United States could not support the South African government undermining U.S. foreign policy, as it posed threats to national security, its allies, its African partners, and its interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following the executive order, the Trump administration announced that it intended to impose 30% tariffs on South African imports to the country as part of the U.S. President\u2019s \u201cLiberation Day\u201d plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That same month, on 14 April 2025, Ramaphosa appointed MTN chairman Mcebisi Jonas as special envoy to the U.S., with the mission to mend fences with the Trump administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jonas was appointed after former U.S. ambassador Ebrahim Rasool was expelled from the country for saying Trump and the MAGA movement were partly the result of a \u201csupremacist instinct\u201d during a webinar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Jonas\u2019 appointment was quickly criticised. Although he has a sterling reputation as a State Capture whistleblower, he had previously made disparaging remarks about Donald Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the keynote speaker at the annual Ahmed Kathrada Lecture in 2020, Jonas referred to Trump as a \u201cracist, homophobic, and narcissistic right-winger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MTN chairman Mcebisi Jonas responds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Mcebisi-Jonas-MTN-headline.jpg\")
Mcebisi Jonas, MTN chairman and special envoy to the United States<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nFollowing his appointment and the resurfacing of his comments, Jonas told Radio 702 that he was not in government at the time and speaking as an activist. He also suggested that his views had evolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Five weeks later, Ramaphosa led a delegation to Washington, where he met with Trump in a publicly broadcast meeting<\/a> with government officials, celebrities, and businessmen in attendance. <\/p>\n\n\n\nNotably, Jonas was absent. It would later emerge that the U.S. had denied Jonas\u2019 visa and rejected his diplomatic credentials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to terrorism financing allegations, MTN has also been accused of bribing Iranian officials to obtain the country\u2019s first cellular network licence in 2004.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rival bidder Turkcell claimed that MTN bribed officials, arranged meetings for Iran with South African leaders, and promised Iran weapons and United Nations votes in exchange for the Irancell deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Court documents filed in the United States show that MTN referred to Iran as \u201cSnooker\u201d and its Iranian expansion as \u201cProject Snooker\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among Turkcell\u2019s allegations were that MTN had helped fund the travel of Iran\u2019s nuclear negotiator to meet former President Thabo Mbeki in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This allegedly led to South Africa abstaining from an International Atomic Energy Agency vote declaring Iran non-compliant with the Non-Proliferation Treaty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MTN has denied facilitating such meetings, bribing officials, or having any influence over South African government policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turkcell\u2019s original dispute with MTN is ongoing through its subsidiary, the East Asian Consortium (EAC). When they filed the case in South Africa, they sought damages of $4.2 billion (R75 billion), excluding interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Supreme Court of Appeal recently ruled that South African courts could hear some of EAC\u2019s complaints. MTN has applied for leave to appeal in the Constitutional Court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Geopolitical storm<\/h2>\n\n\n\nGeneral Rudzani Maphwanya, chief of the SANDF, meeting with Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhile MTN has faced allegations of bribery, corruption, and enabling terrorist activity since 2012, the mobile operator now finds itself entwined in a larger geopolitical storm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order<\/a> in February 2025 that mentioned South Africa\u2019s \u201creinvigorated\u201d relations with Iran and genocide accusations against Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe order stated that South Africa and Iran were developing commercial, military, and nuclear arrangements \u2014 allegations that SANDF General Rudzani Maphwanya\u2019s recent visit to Iran did not assuage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iran\u2019s potential nuclear capabilities are a sensitive subject for the U.S. It bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In February 2025, following Trump\u2019s executive order, the group CEO of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, Loyiso Tyabashe, denied claims of nuclear cooperation between South Africa and Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to South Africa\u2019s relationship with Iran, Trump\u2019s executive order also criticised South Africa for bringing genocide charges against Israel, and not Hamas, at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The order stated that the United States could not support the South African government undermining U.S. foreign policy, as it posed threats to national security, its allies, its African partners, and its interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following the executive order, the Trump administration announced that it intended to impose 30% tariffs on South African imports to the country as part of the U.S. President\u2019s \u201cLiberation Day\u201d plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That same month, on 14 April 2025, Ramaphosa appointed MTN chairman Mcebisi Jonas as special envoy to the U.S., with the mission to mend fences with the Trump administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jonas was appointed after former U.S. ambassador Ebrahim Rasool was expelled from the country for saying Trump and the MAGA movement were partly the result of a \u201csupremacist instinct\u201d during a webinar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Jonas\u2019 appointment was quickly criticised. Although he has a sterling reputation as a State Capture whistleblower, he had previously made disparaging remarks about Donald Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the keynote speaker at the annual Ahmed Kathrada Lecture in 2020, Jonas referred to Trump as a \u201cracist, homophobic, and narcissistic right-winger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MTN chairman Mcebisi Jonas responds<\/h2>\n\n\n\nMcebisi Jonas, MTN chairman and special envoy to the United States<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nFollowing his appointment and the resurfacing of his comments, Jonas told Radio 702 that he was not in government at the time and speaking as an activist. He also suggested that his views had evolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Five weeks later, Ramaphosa led a delegation to Washington, where he met with Trump in a publicly broadcast meeting<\/a> with government officials, celebrities, and businessmen in attendance. <\/p>\n\n\n\nNotably, Jonas was absent. It would later emerge that the U.S. had denied Jonas\u2019 visa and rejected his diplomatic credentials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While MTN has faced allegations of bribery, corruption, and enabling terrorist activity since 2012, the mobile operator now finds itself entwined in a larger geopolitical storm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order<\/a> in February 2025 that mentioned South Africa\u2019s \u201creinvigorated\u201d relations with Iran and genocide accusations against Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The order stated that South Africa and Iran were developing commercial, military, and nuclear arrangements \u2014 allegations that SANDF General Rudzani Maphwanya\u2019s recent visit to Iran did not assuage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Iran\u2019s potential nuclear capabilities are a sensitive subject for the U.S. It bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2025, following Trump\u2019s executive order, the group CEO of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, Loyiso Tyabashe, denied claims of nuclear cooperation between South Africa and Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to South Africa\u2019s relationship with Iran, Trump\u2019s executive order also criticised South Africa for bringing genocide charges against Israel, and not Hamas, at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The order stated that the United States could not support the South African government undermining U.S. foreign policy, as it posed threats to national security, its allies, its African partners, and its interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Following the executive order, the Trump administration announced that it intended to impose 30% tariffs on South African imports to the country as part of the U.S. President\u2019s \u201cLiberation Day\u201d plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That same month, on 14 April 2025, Ramaphosa appointed MTN chairman Mcebisi Jonas as special envoy to the U.S., with the mission to mend fences with the Trump administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jonas was appointed after former U.S. ambassador Ebrahim Rasool was expelled from the country for saying Trump and the MAGA movement were partly the result of a \u201csupremacist instinct\u201d during a webinar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, Jonas\u2019 appointment was quickly criticised. Although he has a sterling reputation as a State Capture whistleblower, he had previously made disparaging remarks about Donald Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the keynote speaker at the annual Ahmed Kathrada Lecture in 2020, Jonas referred to Trump as a \u201cracist, homophobic, and narcissistic right-winger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Following his appointment and the resurfacing of his comments, Jonas told Radio 702 that he was not in government at the time and speaking as an activist. He also suggested that his views had evolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Five weeks later, Ramaphosa led a delegation to Washington, where he met with Trump in a publicly broadcast meeting<\/a> with government officials, celebrities, and businessmen in attendance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Notably, Jonas was absent. It would later emerge that the U.S. had denied Jonas\u2019 visa and rejected his diplomatic credentials.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMTN chairman Mcebisi Jonas responds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n