The Democratic Alliance (DA) presses South African Parliament on MTN covert influence scandal in Washington DC
By Staff Writer
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has submitted extensive questions in the South African Parliament regarding the growing scandal in Washington DC centred on the activities of business intelligence consultant Phillip Van Niekerk and his lobbying and research firm, Calabar Africa.
The DA has asked the President, the Minister of International Relations, and the Minister of Intelligence for urgent clarification of their relationships with Van Niekerk, Calabar Africa, and his business partner, former South African diplomat Andrew Nhlapo, in Washington DC.
According to a former South African diplomat, Van Niekerk and Nhlapo regularly brief visiting ANC ministers at the South African Embassy in Washington DC. This is reportedly corroborated by the embassy’s visitor log, which records frequent visits by both men.
A former senior MTN executive has alleged that Van Niekerk, acting as a business intelligence consultant, has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees and expenses from MTN. These payments were allegedly made while he was working under the instruction of Mcebisi Jonas, Chairman of the Board of the MTN Group and President Ramaphosa’s Special Envoy to the United States.
The revelations have raised serious concerns over conflicts of interest within both MTN’s board and the ANC government.
The DA is seeking clarity on whether Van Niekerk and his associates have briefed ANC leaders in the Presidency, the Ministry of International Relations, or the Intelligence Ministry, and whether Van Niekerk has received any payments from government sources.
Separately, the DA has filed a request under the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (PAIA), to obtain a copy of a report by the South African State Security Agency (SSA). The report was allegedly leaked by a senior official in the Presidency to the Sowetan newspaper. A whistleblower at the Sowetan has claimed that the SSA report included material supplied by Van Niekerk and agents employed by Calabar Africa regarding the DA leaders Andrew Whitfield and Emma Powell, who visited Washington DC in February 2025.
President Ramaphosa reportedly used this SSA report as the basis for dismissing Andrew Whitfield from his position as Deputy Minister of Trade in the Government of National Unity (GNU).
The DA’s spokesperson on international relations has also issued a public statement warning that “MTN’s problems must not become South Africa’s problems.” The statement further emphasises the need for transparency in government dealings with MTN and its consultants.
The DA’s full set of parliamentary questions on the matter — directed at the Presidency, the Minister of State Security, and the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation — can be read in full [here].
Van Niekerk has been approached for comment but has not responded.
