The SA government hasn’t taken a stance on the proposed MTN-Bharti deal, the communications department said on Wednesday. “We wish to put it on record that the department and/or the government have not taken a stance on the issue as discussions between the parties are ongoing,” it said in a statement.
“It is therefore incorrect that government has offered its support for the proposed tie-up at this stage, as reported in the media.”
MTN and Bharti are engaged in negotiations on a US$23bn deal that could create the world’s third-biggest cellphone company by subscribers. The talks started in May and have twice been extended by a month to the end of September. — Sapa