Gateway Communications, one of the members of the CommuniTel consortium, says accusations that another consortium partner fabricated its empowerment credentials will not delay the introduction of the second national operator (SNO).
CommuniTel has been granted a 12.5% stake in the SNO.
Business Report reports today that CommuniTel`s chairman Deacon Mathe and Dumisani Khoza, supposed office bearers of Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veteran`s Association (MKMVA), were accused by the MKMVA of using its name for their own enrichment.
Gateway Communications MD Mike van den Bergh says although the newspaper report does not set back plans to introduce the SNO or CommuniTel`s relationship with MKMVA Investment Holdings, the consortium partners will have to seriously consider what is contained in the article.
"The article won`t have any impact, either way, from the SNO implementation or CommuniTel`s intention to work with MKMVA," says Van den Bergh.
"In order to move forward, we will be in discussion with Mathe and his colleagues as to what they make of the report, possibly do an internal investigation as well as properly verify a number of issues," he says.
"We did not see any need to find out how many members MKMVA has but rather what they could offer as partners to CommuniTel and its consortiums."
He also adds that the consortium did not include MKMVA for its empowerment status but for its credibility with regard to creating jobs.
"We saw an opportunity to include MKMVA as an organisation that is a broad-based group and one that actually creates job opportunities, as well as contributes to the economy of the country."
Mathe, who denied having seen the report, refused to speak to ITWeb today.
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