MONDAY, 8.30AM
THE SA Telecommunications Authority has retaliated against Telkom (see below) warning that the phone company faces a fine or even the loss of its licence should it continue to ignore instructions. Satra accuses Telkom of high-handed behaviour in its failure to follow procedures for a tariff increase and its refusal to reverse the increase.
FRIDAY, 8.30AM
TELKOM took its spat with the SA Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (Satra) to a new level on Thursday, announcing that it had no intention of cancelling increases in the costs of calls to cellphones, because Satra’s objections had not arrived on time.
Telkom said it had informed Satra of the proposed increases (see below) in early September, and Satra could not halt the decision now, when cost and effort had already been expended to enforce the order.
THURSDAY, 1.30PM
THE South African Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (Satra) instructed state-owned Telkom to reverse its recently announced rates increases on telephone calls to cellular phones on Wednesday. Satra said Telkom’s announcement of an 8% to 20% price increase was made without the correct tariff-filing procedures.
Satra chairman Nape Maepa said: “Under the circumstances, the proposed change of rates cannot become effective because Telkom has not filed.” Satra needs to have a detailed breakdown of the new tariff structure before such an increase can be effective.
Telkom representative Pinky Moholi said the body had gone ahead with the rates increase because Satra had not lodged any complaints about the filing earlier. Satra has requested that Telkom refile its request for the increase.
BUSINESS BRIEFS
SA WINE ON A ROLL
The wine industry in South Africa generates 100_000 jobs, and contributes to another 115_000 jobs, mostly in the Western Cape, a study commissioned by wine co-operative KWV reveals. The industry contributed R10,1-billion to GDP last year, of which R6-billion went to retail sales, and R1,3-billion to wineland tourism.
RICHER AND MEANER
DESPITE record economic growth, the world’s richest nations are slashing aid to the developing world. A new British study entitled the Reality of Aid says there is no committment to eradicating global poverty and that aid is steadily declining.
OSTRICH EXPORTS RELAXED
NAMIBIA has allowed ostrich breeders a 30-day experimental period during which they will be allowed to export ostriches without indentification tags. Ostrich breeders are normally expected to tag all birds with microchips to ensure control over breeding and feeding, a procedure the breeders want abolished because it is costly and slow.
$1,3bn WORLD BANK PROJECTS
THE World Bank has announced that it will spend $1,3-billion on major educational projects in 37 African countries over the next two years. The bank has already spent $1,6-billion on 40 similar African projects. Less than 4% of African children have access to higher education.