The Communication Workers Union (CWU) wish to register its shock and disgust at the allegation of car licence cloning by the Chief Executive Officer of Telkom, Mr Sipho Maseko, as published in the front page of The Star newspaper of the 25th July 2014. On the face of it, this is a serious scandal by someone who should have known better and acted honestly.

It is highly unacceptable for those in high offices to purposely act in violation of the law. For someone earning a huge salary of almost R1 million to evade a traffic fine of R30 000 and obviously some other dues is quite disgusting to say the least. This is the same man who urges Telkom employees to tighten the belt and avoid excessive spending whilst he himself and other senior executives continue to milk the company through excessive salaries and exorbitant bonuses whilst the overwhelming majority of people and workers suffer. If this allegation is anything to go by, instead of leading by example, Mr. Maseko has acted in a manner unbecoming and unbefitting a man of his social standing and has dismally failed a nation which expected so much from him. If indeed this allegation is found to be true, he must hang his head in shame and do the honourable thing in the best interests of Telkom and our nation.

His conduct in trying to get the assistance of the Johannesburg City Manager to squash any investigation into his demeanour, as alleged, is a clear case of using one’s connection to people at the top to abort justice and this must be condemned with contempt by all law abiding citizens. His assertion that he is an honest taxpaying citizen can be nothing but a desperate attempt to pull wool over the nation’s eyes.

As a union, we fully support the investigation into this matter by the Johannesburg Metro Police Department and if needs be, the involvement of other state law enforcement agencies such as SIU and SAPS must be enlisted. There is no doubt that these allegations have dealt a serious blow to the public standing and reputation of one of the high ranking officials of a very critical parastatal and will bring to question his fitness to hold public office given the gravity of this alleged fraudulent conduct. The investigation must be carried without any delay and if found guilty, Mr. Maseko must face the music.