Monday, February 6, 2012

S. Africa to Probe Threats Against MTN, SacOil Nigeria Holdings


Business Week
5 February 2012


By Stephen Gunnion

Feb. 5 (Bloomberg) -- South Africa’s Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation will investigate threats against South African companies with investments in Nigeria by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta.

The movement, known as MEND, has threatened to attack the holdings of companies including MTN Group Ltd., Africa’s biggest cell phone operator, and SacOil Holding Ltd., an oil and gas exploration company, saying South African President Jacob Zuma is interfering “in the legitimate fight for justice” in the Niger River delta region. MEND yesterday said it attacked and damaged a pipeline belonging to a unit of Eni SpA of Italy.

“It’s a matter we’ll look into definitely; terrorism has to be rooted out,” Clayson Monyela, spokesman for the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, said by mobile phone today. “The authorities in Nigeria have always been responsive to acts that are unlawful and will deal with this as they always have dealt with such threats.”

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