/ 1 May 1997

Telkom chief quits over dilution of powers

THURSDAY 10.30AM

TELKOM’S MD and CEO Brian Clark yesterday announced his resignation with immediate effect. A Telkom statement said Clark left “to pursue other interests”.

However, Telkom sources suggest his resignation had more to do with a dilution of his powers following the sale of a strategic equity stake in the parastatal to a US-Malaysian consortium. From being the only executive, Clark became one of four in a complex new executive management structure intorduced by the new equity partners.

In the meantime, Telkom chairman Dikgang Moseneke will stand in as acting MD and CEO until a new incumbent is announced. “Telkom’s reconstituted board of directors, with SBC Communications and Telekom Malaysia, will in due course appoint a new chief executive officer,” said Moseneke. He also expressed gratitude to Clark on behalf of Telkom’s board and workers for steering the corporation through a difficult period of transformation.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

MAYDAY HOLIDAY

MAY 1 is the Workers’ Day holiday in South Africa. Businesses are closed.

ZIM MAIZE CROP DOWN

DISEASE and waterlogging have slashed Zimbabwe’s maize crop to below 2,1-million tons, after expectations of a bumper 2,8-million ton harvest for the year. The Zimbabwe Ceral Producers’ Association had expected to export 500 000 tons this year, but has revised the figure to 200 000 tons.