Trade union Solidarity on Tuesday called on the Communications Department to investigate the circumstances surrounding the sudden resignation of Telkom’s CEO, Papi Molotsane.
The union’s deputy general secretary, Dirk Hermann, said the organisation believes that government interference in the management of Telkom could have prompted Molotsane to quit.
”We get the impression that the relationship between Molotsane and government was tense, and that government tried to intervene in the management of Telkom.
”It remains a bone of contention to us that government, which is responsible for regulating the telecommunications industry, is at the same time the largest shareholder [38%] in Telkom,” said Hermann in a statement.
Solidarity wants an independent inquiry into the problems at Telkom.
He said the investigation should also cover Telkom’s ”inadequate and exorbitantly expensive” services and allegations of corruption at the company.
Opposition parties echoed the criticism.
Democratic Alliance spokesperson on communications Dene Smuts said it is likely Molotsane left because he did not believe in certain projects that the government wanted him to undertake.
”It seems probable that Telkom CEO Papi Molotsane has quit because he would not commit to a project in which he did not believe — government’s East Africa Submarine System, which forms part of the Nepad [New Partnership for Africa’s Development] broadband network,” she said. — Sapa