President Jacob Zuma and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari are expected to meet in Johannesburg this week to discuss the $5.2 billion (R74 billion) fine imposed on MTN Group’s Nigerian unit for failure to register 5.1 million customers. By Staff Writer
The Sunday Times newspaper said Buhari is expected to meet Zuma on the sidelines of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation, which gets under way in Johannesburg this week.
The South African government has been unwilling to confirm or deny its involvement in the MTN matter.
Clayson Monyela, spokesman for the Department of International Relations, told the Sunday Times that government was monitoring developments with keen interests “The matter between MTN and Nigeria is between a private company and issues of compliance in a market they do business in,” Monyela told the newspaper.
The news of the planned meeting comes after Nigeria’s Minister of Communications Adebayo Shittu this week said the MTN issue was now before Mr President. “He will take the necessary decision at the appropriate time. And the President would do what is best for the public interest.”
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) issued a R74.8bn fine to MTN last month for failing to disconnect five million unregistered SIM cards in a timely manner.
The NCC then set a deadline of November 16 for MTN to pay the fine but was extended until negotiations were completed.
The full report is available in this week’s Sunday Times.
