A former CEO of MTN Group, Sifiso Dabengwa, has reportedly died.
Reports obtained by Naija News revealed that Dabengwa passed away on Monday morning after a battle with cancer.
Dabengwa held the position of CEO at MTN from March 2011 until 2015, when he resigned amid the company’s efforts to address a substantial fine of ₦1.04 trillion imposed by Nigeria for failing to disconnect over five million customers with unregistered SIM cards.
Originally from Zimbabwe, Dabengwa also had a brief tenure as the CEO of MTN Nigeria until 2006.
South African media sources have reported confirmation of his death from family spokesperson Themba Sibanyoni.
In a statement made available to newsmen on Monday, Sibanyoni said: “Dabengwa was a titan in the telecommunications industry and an astute businessman. His tenure as CEO of MTN Group from 2011 to 2015 was marked by visionary leadership, integrity, and dedication that drove significant advancements in the industry”.
Sibanyoni said Dabengwa left a legacy that extends far beyond the boardroom.
“He was an advocate for education and a fervent believer in the power of technology to transform lives,” he praised the deceased.
A senior executive at MTN, who verified the news of the passing at the company’s headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, expressed that MTN received the announcement with profound shock and sorrow.
She remarked that the entire MTN community is in a state of mourning, given that Dabengwa remained a part of the MTN family after leading the telecommunications giant for several impactful years.
