President Thabo Mbeki has joined Cell C in condemning the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, who founded Saudi Oger, one of the companies that owns Cell C.
Hariri is the father of Saad Hariri, who oversees the day-to-day operations of the various business interests of Lebanon-based conglomerate Saudi Oger around the world. In SA, Saudi Oger owns 60% of Cell C, while South African black empowerment group CellSAf holds the balance.
Hariri was one of at least 10 people killed in a car bombing in central Beirut, Lebanon, yesterday.
Cell C said in a statement today that it is deeply shocked and saddened by Hariri`s untimely death.
"We extend our deepest condolences to the Hariri family and the people of Lebanon," said Cell C and CellSAf director Zwelakhe Mankazana.
He added that yesterday`s tragic incident had no direct impact on Cell C and its subsidiaries in SA as the former Lebanese prime minister was not operationally involved in either Saudi Oger or Cell C.
Paying tribute to Hariri, he said: "The board of directors, management and employees of Cell C are proud to have been associated with this peace icon who is widely credited with rebuilding Lebanon after its long civil war. It is precisely his qualities as a foresighted visionary, astute entrepreneur and committed philanthropist which enabled the partnership with CellSAf to flourish.
"Today Cell C stands as a beacon of successful co-operation between a direct foreign investor and black economic empowerment partners. Cell C owes much of its growth in the past three years to the unwavering commitment of the Hariri family. Since launching in November 2001, in excess of R7 billion has been committed by both CellSAf and Saudi Oger to the establishment of the local mobile cellular phone operator, which now enjoys a market share of 12% in SA.
"As the father of our majority shareholder, Mr Hariri is the father of all of us at Cell C. We share in the family`s loss," concluded Mankazana.
Mbeki also unequivocally condemned the assassination and extended SA`s heartfelt condolences to the government and the people of Lebanon following the fatal attack.
"Our thoughts and prayers reach out to the family of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, the government and peoples of Lebanon during this time of bereavement," said Mbeki.
The South African government also reiterated its condemnation of all forms of terrorism, maintaining that military solutions cannot lead to the resolution of political problems.
Hariri (60), a Sunni with dual Lebanese and Saudi Arabian citizenship, had been prime minister for 10 years, resigning last October.
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