Open Secrets Newsletter | We will not be #Shutdown
February 2025
February was a landmark month for South African politics, both on the home front and on the international stage. From the State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2025, the heated debate over the (very lukewarm) Expropriation Bill, the postponed budget speech, and becoming a favoured target of the Trump regime—South Africa was in the global spotlight. None of that distracted Open Secrets from focusing on its core mission: holding corporate criminals accountable wherever they are. In our spotlight this month – one of South Africa’s most beloved corporate darlings, MTN.
#ShutdownsEverywhereYouGo
On 25th of February 2025, Open Secrets released #ShutdownsEverywhereYouGo, a hard-hitting investigation exposing how MTN has been complicit in internet shutdowns, corruption, tax evasion, and even enabling terror activities in war-torn and authoritarian countries in Africa and the Middle East. With detailed case studies from Iran, Afghanistan, Sudan, Cameroon, Uganda, and Nigeria, the report uncovers how this telecom giant has operated with impunity, escaping legal and regulatory consequences for years.
The live launch was hosted by Open Secrets’ team featuring Luvano Ntuli, Abby May, Ra’eesa Pather, and Jane Borman.
If you missed it, catch up now on Open Secrets TV!
South Africa’s complicity in war crimes in Yemen
The latest edition of the Business and Human Rights Journal included an article authored by Open Secrets investigators, Michael Marchant and Zen Mathe. ‘Offshoring’ Weapons Production and Implications for Export Controls: Lessons from South Africa explores the growing trend of ‘offshoring’, in which large weapons manufacturers, especially in Europe, circumvent domestic bans or limitations on exports to countries by offshoring their production and exports to third countries like South Africa.
The article is partly based on Open Secrets’ investigation, Profiting from Misery: South Africa’s complicity in war crimes in Yemen. The report shows how Rheinmetall Denel Munitions (RDM) and other South African companies have regularly supplied Saudi Arabia and the UAE led coalition with weapons before and after the civil war started in Yemen in 2014. Some of these weapons may have been used in war crimes.
Since 2021, Open Secrets has been seeking to hold to account the South African arms companies who may have profited from the devastation in Yemen. With Southern African Litigation Centre (SALC), we launched an application with the North Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) to set aside the permits granted by the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) authorising arms exports from South African companies to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Nearly four years since we launched this application, we are still without answers due to long delays by the NCACC and some of the arms companies. However, recent court filings have moved us closer to a day in court. Holding war profiteers to account remains vital as the war and humanitarian crisis in Yemen continues unabated.
Featured!
On 16th February 2025, we partnered with Politically Aweh for a special live show, Nation in a State, for a tongue in cheek state capture address featuring a round-up of state capture and its aftermath with KG Mokgadi, Open Secrets campaigner Letlhogonolo Letshele, Onke Ngcuka, and Suné Payne. The full episode was streamed live on Open Secrets TV and will be available soon for rewatch!
In The Media
- WATCH | Newzroom Afrika – MTN probed for human rights violations in war-torn countries
- LISTEN | Cape Talk – Exposing MTN’s Role in Internet Shutdowns across Africa and the Middle East
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