DA to submit a PAIA application to MTN for documents relating to Iran

The Democratic Alliance (DA) will submit a request, in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (No. 2 of 2000), for access to copies of records relating to the MTN Group (Ltd)'s business activities in Iran.

The allegations, which have emerged in a lawsuit filed in the United States District Court of Columbia in Washington DC, suggest that the MTN Group (Ltd) may have undertaken to provide access to its devices by agreeing to facilitate the installation of "eavesdropping technology" on its devices in Iran.

The court papers state that "Additionally, upon information and belief, MTN offered the advantage to Sairan that it could provide access by the Iranian Ministry of Defence to MTN's devices once MTN was partnered with an Iranian company and running a private cellular network in Iran. The access would facilitate installation of eavesdropping technology on MTN devices".

I am therefore concerned that in possibly facilitating the surveillance of the political opposition, the MTN Group (Ltd) may directly or indirectly be responsible for violation of human rights in Iran.

In its defence, the MTN Group (Ltd) claims that it "seeks to ensure that our corporate values of respect for human rights are reflected in the way we do business". To assist with its ethical framework and management practices, the MTN Group (Ltd) has a "Board Social and Ethics Committee".

I will therefore be writing to Mr Sifiso Dabengwa, Chief Executive Officer of the MTN Group (Ltd), requesting him to provide me with the following information:

• The name of the chairperson/s of the MTN Group (Ltd) Social and Ethics Committee of every year between 2003 and 2012;
• the name of all persons who served on the MTN Group (Ltd) Social and Ethics Committee of every year between 2003 and 2012;
• the number of times that the MTN Group (Ltd) Social and Ethics Committee met to discuss issues relating to Iran of every year between 2003 and 2012; and
• a summary of the recommendations made by the MTN Group (Ltd) Social and Ethics Committee on issues relating to Iran of every year between 2003 and 2012.

I will, in addition, be submitting a request, in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (No. 2 of 2000), for the following:

• Copies of all records in the possession of the MTN Group (Pty) Ltd Board relating to possible human rights violations in Iran; and
• copies of all records in the MTN Group (Ltd) Social and Ethics Committee relating to Iran.

If the MTN Group (Ltd) has nothing to hide, the company should have no problem handing over copies of the records relating to its business dealings in Iran.

Statement issued by David Maynier MP, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, April 4 2012

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