SOUTH Africa’s Competition Tribunal has approved four outsourcing deals concluded by telecoms operator Telkom aimed at cutting its non-core activities ahead of a 2001 initial public offering. It said the deals, some of which had initially faced opposition from workers concerned about their jobs, were subject to a stay of retrenchments by all parties in the next 20 months. The watchdog said the deals would not harm competition. The Tribunal approved the sale by Telkom of some 1400 properties to TPI Investments and the subsequent leasing back by Telkom of some of these properties. – Reuters