Notes to the Group financial statements l Note 1.1

1.1 Basis of preparation

The Group financial statements of MTN Group Limited (the Company) comprise the Company and its subsidiaries and the Group’s interest in associates and joint ventures (together referred to as the ”Group” and individually as (”Group entities”). The Group financial statements and Company financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and Interpretations as issued by the IFRS Interpretations Committee (IFRIC), and comply with the SAICA Financial Reporting Guides as issued by the Accounting Practices Committee, Financial Reporting Pronouncements as issued by the Financial Reporting Standards Council (FRSC), the JSE Listings Requirements and the requirements of the South African Companies Act, No 71 of 2008. The Group and the Company have adopted all new accounting pronouncements that became effective in the current reporting period, none of which had a material impact on the Group or the Company.

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis adjusted for the effects of inflation where entities operate in hyperinflationary economies and for certain financial instruments and non-current assets held for sale that have been measured at fair value, where applicable.

The Sudanese and Syrian economies have been considered to be hyperinflationary. Accordingly, the results, cash flows and financial position of the Group’s subsidiaries, MTN Sudan Company Limited and MTN Syria (JSC) have been expressed in terms of the measuring unit current at the reporting date.

Iran ceased being regarded as a hyperinflationary economy during 2015, resulting in hyperinflation accounting relating to Irancell Telecommunication Company Services (PJSC) not being applied from 1 July 2015 onward.

The methods used to measure fair value and the adjustments made to account for the Group’s entities that operate in hyperinflationary economies are discussed further in the accounting policies and in the respective notes.

Amounts are rounded to the nearest million with the exception of earnings per share and the related number of shares (note 2.7), number of ordinary shares (note 8.1), share-based payments (note 8.4) and directors’ emoluments and interests (note 10.2).

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Information about significant areas of estimation uncertainty and critical judgements in applying accounting policies that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements are included in note 1.5.