Telecom
Ramaphosa, MTN Chairman Faces Scrutiny over Nigerian Deal
Cyril Ramaphosa, an executive of South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC) and chairman of the board of the continent’s largest mobile phone operator; MTN Group has come under fresh scrutiny following his recent acquisition of minority stake in the group’s Nigerian interests.
Ramaphosa who last October took responsibility for police shooting to death of 34 mine workers following a protest against inhuman working conditions at the Marikana mines could be investigated by the Ethics Institute of South Africa.
Deon Russouw, chief executive of the SA Ethics Institute said investigations would start if he shows any interest at public position in the country which could then lead to a conflict of interest.
Russouw was quoted in South Africa media as insisted that the founder of National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) would have a conflict of interest should he seek public position owing to his numerous business interests.
“It’s quite clear that if one is about to assume a new position, then of course the conflict of interest would start at that point,” Russouw was quoted as saying in South African press.
Ramaphosa’s controlled Shanduka Group recently bought into MTN Nigeria in a $335 million deal but questions about corporate governance and a potential conflict of interest are being asked in his home country, South Africa.
There are also concerns in South Africa about the manner of the Nigerian deal while he a sitting chairman of the MTN Group and an executive of the ANC. He is expected to be voted in as ANC Deputy President in the party’s congress to be held in Mangaung next December.
He has already being nominated by the KwaZulu-Natal ANC executive and the very powerful women’s league. Being Deputy President of the ANC would pave way for his eventual emergence as South Africa’s president post Jacob Zuma.
Nigerian officials have maintained stoic silence over the deal.
Besides being chairman of the Shanduka Group, Ramaphosa also holds stakes in the Lonmin mine where 34 miners were killed following strikes last October. He would later donate R2 million through the Shanduka Group towards funeral expenses of the killed miners.
The workers rejected the offer calling the donation ‘blood money’ in apparent reference to his stake in the mining firm. He however stated that it was donated as a goodwill gesture.
The concerns stem from Ramaphosa who controls Shanduka Group being chairman of the MTN Group, of which MTN Nigeria is a subsidiary.
Mazen Mroue, a non-executive director at MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, has resigned effective February 27, 2026, to prioritise other responsibilities within the MTN Group, the company announced in a Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) filing.
MTN Nigeria
The notice, signed by company secretary Uto Ukpanah, stated: “This is to enable Mr. Mroue to focus on other priorities within MTN Group Limited. The Board wishes to express its appreciation to Mr. Mroue for his immense service to MTN Nigeria and wishes him success in his future endeavours.”
Mroue joined MTN Nigeria’s board on June 1, 2022, bringing over 28 years of telecom experience. A veteran MTN executive, he previously served as CEO of MTN Uganda and MTN Liberia, non-executive director at MTN Cyprus, and held leadership roles at MTN Ghana.
Since February 2022, he has been MTN Group’s Chief Technology and Information Officer, overseeing technology strategy and governance. Earlier, as MTN Nigeria’s COO from August 2018 to January 2022, he also sat on the MTN Nigeria Foundation board.
The exit follows MTN Nigeria’s stellar 2025 results, posting a ₦1.70 trillion profit before tax—reversing a ₦550.3 billion loss in 2024 driven by forex woes—marking one of the telco’s strongest rebounds.
Google has rolled out support for Yorùbá and Hausa languages in its AI-powered Search features—AI Overviews and AI Mode—enabling millions of Nigerians to get quick answers, summaries, and conversational web exploration in their mother tongues.
The update forms part of Google’s push to cover 13 African languages, including Afrikaans, Akan, Amharic, Kinyarwanda, Afaan Oromoo, Somali, Sesotho, Kiswahili, Setswana, Wolof, and isiZulu, selected based on high search activity across the continent.
Now, a Kano student can ask complex questions in Hausa, while an Ibadan trader seeks business tips in Yorùbá—both receiving culturally nuanced AI responses via text or voice on Android, iOS, or web.
Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s West Africa Communications Manager, said: “Building truly global Search requires nuanced local understanding. With Gemini-powered AI, we’ve made advanced capabilities relevant in Yorùbá and Hausa, so Nigerians converse naturally with Search in their mother tongues.”
To use: Open the Google app, tap AI Mode, and query in Hausa or Yorùbá for personalised guidance—breaking language barriers and making technology reflect Nigeria’s diverse identity.
MultiChoice is closing its continental streaming platform Showmax after 11 years, notifying subscribers Thursday of the board’s decision to discontinue the service in the near future to refocus on sustainable digital offerings.
MultiChoice
The email assured no immediate disruption: “You can continue streaming as usual, and no action is required from you at this time.” Showmax, launched in South Africa in 2015 and expanded across Africa, offered movies, series, documentaries, and sports to rival Netflix and others amid rising online entertainment demand.
The shutdown follows Canal+’s approved takeover of MultiChoice last year, with the French giant offering ZAR 125 per share for remaining stakes.
The deal mandates HDP ownership boosts, local content investment, and splitting MultiChoice’s SA broadcasting arm into an independent entity to meet regulations.
MultiChoice prioritised subscribers during the transition, promising advance notice on timelines.
Showmax’s exit signals consolidation pressures in Africa’s cut-throat streaming market, where global players dominate despite local content strengths.
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