"Divisive" former CEO of Telkom and later MD of Telkom International, Motlatsi Nzeku, who was last year paid R13 million to go away, is on his way back to telecoms, reports Sunday Times.
Although he might not necessarily return to Telkom, it emerged this week that Nzeku had meetings with Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko, states the report. Reportedly Nzeku told the newspaper that the meeting with Maseko was not about returning to Telkom, but also said that they "are not friends". Nzeku apparently did not specify whether the meeting was about possible business dealings with Telkom, or that he may be reappointed at the company.
Sunday Times says that Maseko was adamant that Telkom did not offer Nzeku a job. "I haven't met him since I joined Telkom seven months ago. And before I joined Telkom, I must have met him at most three or four times."
But internal memos leaked to Sunday Times, reportedly show that formal talks between Maseko and Nzeku have been taking place. Speculation in the company is that Nzeku is being groomed to return to Telkom.
In 2009, then CEO Reuben September dismissed Nzeku for being divisive and counterproductive to the progressive functioning of Telkom, says Sunday Times. Earlier that year, Nzeku reportedly presented a dossier to the board, alleging September had taken a kickback from Ericsson to give it a multimillion-rand tender to supply microwave satellite equipment.
At the end of October, the industry was taken aback by news of Telkom CFO Jacques Schindeh"utte's suspension, the result of an investigation into "certain allegations" made against him. Telkom would not be drawn on what charges Schindeh"utte faces, saying only that the board was advised to suspend him, pending a disciplinary process.
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