MTN’s Corruption Capitulation: R10-million Cellphone Scandal Exposed

Yet another egregious example of corporate corruption has emerged in South Africa, as telecommunications giant MTN has been forced to abandon its attempted legal maneuverings in the wake of allegations that it fleeced the Limpopo department of health out of R10 million.

According to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), MTN’s executives brazenly peddled a scheme to the health department to supply 10 000 cellphone devices for Covid-19 mass screenings, a proposal that fell woefully outside the bounds of proper financial management and public procurement norms.

And now, the Special Tribunal has denied MTN’s request for exception, setting the stage for the telecoms behemoth to be held accountable for its questionable dealings in Limpopo.

The SIU, acting as a bulwark against the corrosive effects of corruption, is moving to recover the R10 million stolen from the people of Limpopo and has even taken the unprecedented step of interdicting the pension payout of the health department’s former head, Thokozani Florence Mhlongo, over allegations of malfeasance.

As this corruption-ridden saga continues to unfold, it’s clear that MTN is trying to pull the wool over the public’s eyes. But justice is being served, and the guilty parties will ultimately be held responsible.

A Blow to Corporate Cronies

This case sends a clear message to corporate titans: you can no longer expect to exploit the system to further your own interests. The age of accountability has arrived, and no one is above the law.

In a statement, MTN admitted that it had indeed supplied the 10 000 cellphones, but maintained that it had done nothing unlawful. We can only shake our heads in disbelief at the audacity of this company, which has consistently been dogged by allegations of corruption and malpractice in multiple countries.

Stay Tuned: Will MTN Pay the Price for Its Malfeasance?