Press Releases

MTN pays out over R1m as 2010 World Cup and Afcon qualifiers goals bonanza continues

MTN has today presented a cheque for R580 000 to the Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Ms Dorothy Mahlangu, who accepted it on behalf of the Gauteng Disaster Management Centre (GDMC). The cheque is part of MTN’s contribution to support organisations providing relief to those displaced through recent attacks on foreign nationals.

Three weeks ago MTN launched its advertising campaign with the pledge to donate R10 000 for every goal scored at the Africa qualifiers for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ and the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations from 31 May to 22 June 2008. This amount is capped at R3 million. This latest donation brings to over R4 million the total contribution by MTN to charity organisations assisting the displaced. Donations have been made to the Salvation Army (R250 000), Doctors Without Borders (R250 000) and the South African Red Cross (R2,1 million in cash and in kind).

Says MTN Group Executive, Corporate Affairs, Ms Nozipho January-Bardill: “MTN is encouraged by the progress being made by institutions like the NDMC and others to bring relief to fellow Africans who have been displaced as a result of recent attacks on foreign nationals and some South Africans in parts of our country. We are just two years to the opening game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ and MTN is committed to ensuring that South Africa and the continent host the most spectacular event ever. Our support for the NDMC and similar initiatives is an effort to contribute to the unifying spirit that MTN, South Africa and the continent wish to create as we prepare for 2010.”

This month, more than 15 000 MTN employees across operations in Africa and the Middle East are participating in Y’ello Care activities, an initiative through which every staff member is expected to volunteer during working hours in a social responsibility project in the community. Among other projects, MTN South Africa staff members have been volunteering at the various facilities where displaced people have been accommodated and they have also donated clothing and food. “MTN is passionate about corporate social responsibility and the response to our call to staff to volunteer indicates that we have been successful in instilling that culture among MTN staff members,” says January-Bardill.

MTN is the title sponsor of the CAF Champions League and the MTN Africa Cup of Nations. MTN also sponsors various football clubs in its countries of operation. In 2005, MTN launched MTNfootball.com, which has become a credible source of the most up-to-date information about the game of football for fans and media alike.