Dear Editor
The media like to present themselves as corruption busters. But all too often, they become complicit in covering up malfeasance by acting as a mouthpiece for those seeking to shield themselves in corruption scandals.
This is the only conclusion one can draw when reading “Jonas Speaks Out Over Dirty Tricks” in the Sunday Times (August 24).
The article reports that Mcebisi Jonas, the Chair of the embattled MTN cellular network, has claimed that a dirty tricks campaign is being waged against South Africa, because a United States Grand Jury is currently investigating whether MTN colluded with international terrorist networks in Afghanistan and Iran, actions which allegedly led directly to the deaths of US servicemen and women.
This is no attack on South Africa. It is, rather, a grave threat to MTN and its leadership if the allegations prove true. It is cynical and disingenuous for Jonas to conflate his personal interests with those of the country.
But there is an even more pressing question. President Cyril Ramaphosa was Jonas’s predecessor as Chair of MTN when the alleged covert operations in Iran and Afghanistan took place.
Clearly, both men have a keen personal interest in presenting this investigation as part of a dirty tricks campaign – and as an attack on South Africa. The real question is: why is the Sunday Times playing along?
The question the Sunday Times should be asking is why President Ramaphosa appointed Mcebisi Jonas as South Africa’s special envoy to the United States when he knew the probe into MTN was underway? Surely it must have been obvious that Jonas could not credibly carry out the role he was supposedly tasked with (protecting the South African economy from punitive tariffs) while simultaneously serving as Chair of MTN?
The President must have recognised this extreme conflict of interest?
The most benign explanation is that he overlooked it. At the other extreme one can surmise that the President chose Jonas, not because he was the best person to prevent punitive tariffs, but because he was best placed to access information into the US probe into MTN’s role in Iran and Afghanistan.
The question the media should be asking is this: Did the President neglect – or even wilfully undermine – South Africa’s national interests in order to protect himself, Jonas, and MTN?
It is, sadly, still all too easy for ANC politicians to approach their allies in the media to drive a smear campaign against those, like Emma Powell, who are brave enough to expose such scandals. It is even easier to use labels in order to discredit them. We see through those tired old tricks.
The truth will out. And it will, most likely, be the Sunday Times, Cyril Ramaphosa, and Mcebisi Jonas who are left with egg on their faces.
And South Africa will once more suffer at the hands of politicians conflating their personal interests, with the interests of our country.
Regards
Ryan Smith MP
DA Spokesperson on International Relations and Cooperation