MTN heads to ConCourt in years-long legal battle with Turkish rival Turkcell

Motheo Khoaripe (in for Stephen Grootes) is joined by MyBroadband editor Jan Vermeulen on The Money Show.

MTN is heading for the Constitutional Court in its ongoing battle with Turkiye's Turkcell over a disputed operating licence granted in Iran back in 2004.

The telecommunications group says it plans to appeal a decision by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) that upheld aspects of the appeal lodged by Turkcell.

The SCA overturned a 2022 High Court ruling involving a R77.9 billion damages claim ($4.2-billion) against the company, as MyBroadband reports.

The High Court dismissed the case on the basis that South African courts do not have jurisdiction over the matter.

Motheo Khoaripe gets some context from MyBroadband editor Jan Vermeulen.

What led to the dispute is damning claims by the Turkish company over why MTN was handed the Iranian licence which Turkcell claims it initially won.

"Turkcell alleges that MTN bribed officials, arranged meetings for Iran with South African leaders... and promised Iran weapons and United Nations votes in exchange for its stake in Irancell."

Jan Vermeulen, Editor - MyBroadband

"The High Court here only dismissed the case in 2022 after it was filed in 2013. And now in 2025, we're hearing that the Supreme Court has overturned that High court ruling on appeal and MTN wants to take the matter to the Constitutional Court."

Jan Vermeulen, Editor - MyBroadband

'It's not a done deal by any stretch' Vermeulen remarks, noting that MTN first has to argue before the ConCourt why it IS  a constitutional matter.

"The merits of the case have not even been heard yet - this is only a fight over jurisdiction and you can see how this kind of 'lawfare' works to delay matters in court."

Jan Vermeulen, Editor - MyBroadband

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview, and click here to read Vermeulen's detailed report