Ramaphosa 'must Do His Homework' On Mcebisi Jonas: Eff As It Flags Mtn-iran Links

The Economic Freedom Fighters EFF has cast doubt on President Cyril Ramaphosa s appointment of Mcebisi Jonas as his special envoy to the US, citing MTNs business interests in Iran.

Jonas is the MTN Groups independent non-executive chairman. The group holds 49 percent equity in Iranian mobile operator MTN Irancell.

In an interview with SABC News on Friday 18 April, EFF Deputy President Godrich Gardee said Jonas appointment was unfortunate.

President Cyril Ramaphosa must just do his homework. He should have done some vetting around whoever he is appointing, Gardee said.

Its up to him to continue embarrassing himself because, for the fact that Jonas is the chairperson of MTN, it will have a dent on the appointment because of the economic relationship between MTN and Iran, which is an archenemy of USA.

MTN is a defendant in a New York court case filed on behalf of American service members and civilians who lost their lives or were wounded in Iraq between 2011 and 2016.

The complaint alleges that MTN and Irancell, among other companies, indirectly supported the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps by doing business with Iranian companies. It was filed in 2021.

MTN has deep sympathy for those who have been injured or lost loved ones as result of the tragic conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the group said in a statement on Thursday 17 April.

MTN firmly believes that the plaintiffs have sued the wrong defendants in the wrong court, based on insufficient allegations.

The US has long had frosty relations with Iran and has imposed sanctions on the country since 1979.