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South Africa’s former ambassador to Iran, Yusuf Saloojee, is the first casualty of the scandal surrounding the MTN Group (Ltd)’s alleged corrupt attempt to secure a mobile operating license in Iran.

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, has acted correctly, after some prodding by the opposition, to suspend Ambassador Yusuf Saloojee pending the outcome of an investigation into his allegedly taking a US$200 000 bribe from the MTN Group (Ltd).

However, Ambassador Yusuf Saloojee is not the only senior official in the international relations and cooperation department to be implicated. Ambassador Abdul Minty is also implicated in the scandal surrounding the MTN (Group) Ltd’s alleged corrupt attempt to secure a mobile operating license in Iran.

It has been alleged, in court papers lodged in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, by rival mobile operating company Turkcell that the MTN Group (Ltd) tried to influence South Africa’s policy on Iran’s nuclear programme.

This allegedly included attempts by the MTN Group (Ltd) to influence South Africa’s vote at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by inter alia trying to influence Ambassador Abdul Minty, who served on the Board of Governors of the IAEA, to abstain during a crucial 2005 vote on Iran's nuclear program by the IAEA.
It is alleged in the court papers, lodged by Turkcell, that:
during an official visit to Iran in 2004, Ambassador Abdul Minty was allegedly present at a dinner, with Ambassador Yusuf Saloojee and representatives of the MTN Group (Ltd), where South Africa’s position on Iran’s nuclear programme and the mobile operating license was discussed; and that
representatives of the MTN Group (Ltd), allegedly asked Ambassador Yusuf Saloojee to call Ambassador Abdul Minty in 2005 ahead of a crucial vote by South Africa on Iran’s nuclear programme at the IAEA.
There is no evidence that the MTN Group (Ltd) did influence Ambassador Abdul Minty to change South Africa’s position on Iran’s nuclear programme.
There is also no suggestion that Ambassador Abdul Minty took a bribe from the MTN Group (Ltd).

The allegation that the MTN Group (Ltd) tried to influence South Africa’s nuclear policy are also strongly denied by the MTN Group (Ltd.)

However, these are extremely serious allegations and must be investigated by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation as a matter of urgency.

I will, therefore, be writing to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoane-Mashabane, calling on her to suspend and probe Ambassador Abdul Minty for his alleged role in the scandal surrounding the MTN Group (Ltd)’s attempt to secure a mobile operating license in Iran.

We must be absolutely sure that our foreign policy is not for sale and cannot be influenced by powerful companies such as the MTN Group (Ltd).