Johannesburg, South Africa – MTN Group’s CEO, Ralph Mupita, has been cleared of any wrongdoing following an independent investigation into anonymous allegations. The company’s board of directors announced the decision on Friday, stating that the investigation found no evidence of improper conduct.
The allegations against Mupita, which surfaced in a Sunday Times report, included favoritism towards a female executive and attempts to transfer responsibilities away from the South African CEO, Charles Molapisi. These concerns reportedly prompted discussions at a board meeting in China earlier this year.
An anonymous whistleblower complaint triggered the independent investigation, which was conducted by a law firm. Despite efforts to engage with the whistleblower, the firm was unable to gather sufficient evidence to substantiate the claims.
The allegations had sparked internal turmoil at MTN, with some executives threatening to resign in protest of Mupita’s leadership style. However, the company’s statement indicated that the board remains fully supportive of both Mupita and the company’s strategic direction.
In a letter to staff, Mupita assured employees that MTN has robust governance processes in place to address workplace matters, including those involving senior leadership.