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Matsepe-Casaburri faces legal battle

By Dave Glazier, ITWeb journalist
Johannesburg, 18 Apr 2007

Suspended SA Post Office (SAPO) boss Khutso Mampeule will take communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri to the Pretoria High Court on Friday, in an attempt to force her to release a report on governance problems at SAPO.

Following Mampeule's suspension in November, the minister has reportedly lost confidence in the SAPO boss, and candidly admitted - in the mainstream media - to wanting him fired.

The board suspended Mampeule as a forensic investigation into corporate governance and management issues began. The results of this investigation are contained within Matsepe-Casaburri's closely-guarded report.

Not long before he was suspended, Mampeule laid a criminal complaint against his predecessor, Maanda Manyatshe (who became MD of MTN, and stepped down from the cell operator when the charges surfaced). The complaint related to tender awarding irregularities.

This morning, Mampeule explained his motives in going to court on Friday.

"The report was written with a specific purpose in mind - it was looking into the SAPO management and into the board. The report shows where things went wrong at the Post Office."

Claiming he is innocent of any wrongdoing, Mampeule adds he wants people to reach a "balanced conclusion" on the problems, and who was to blame.

Asked whether he wishes to be reinstated as CEO, he responded: "Look, the answer is yes, I haven't done anything wrong."

He says Friday's court hearing has two purposes. Firstly, he is requesting the High Court force the minister to release the report. Secondly, Mampeule aims to postpone the SAPO shareholders' meeting scheduled for 23 April, until after he has "studied the report properly".

Related stories:
High hopes for Ivy's exit
Post Office suspends CEO

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