THE South African government is likely to offer incentives for people to hold onto shares in state telecoms firm Telkom when it is floated next year, Public Enterprises director general Sivi Gounden said. ”We are looking at loyalty bonuses for shareholders,” he said. ”It is a model we think will revolutionise the culture of savings in this country.” Gounden said his team was studying the example of Singapore where shareholders have been offered bonus shares in privatised state enterprises if they hold on to them for five years. Such incentives to buy and hold shares, rather than dumping them for a quick profit, was intended to prevent corporate raiders or institutions snapping up the newly privatised firms, Gounden said. – Reuters