Dissatisfied Telkom users are flocking to a parody Web site that roasts Telkom.
Hellkom, the Telkom parody site, has had more than 36 800 hits since it opened on a local server on Thursday last week, says founder and owner Greg Stirton.
Stirton says he started the site about five months ago, but it was hosted on a free server in the US. He only recently brought it into the country after he cleared up legal issues surrounding the site.
"I have been in contact with the Free Speech Foundation and lawyers, and they all tell me the site is protected by the South African Constitution," he says.
Stirton, a Cape Town-based graphic designer, says he started the site to express his, and many others`, dissatisfaction with Telkom`s service and prices "that inhibit the growth of the country".
The Hellkom site contains slogans and jokes aimed at US telecommunications company SBC and Telkom`s ADSL offerings. The site`s main aim is to point a finger at Telkom`s high prices, says Stirton.
"For the same amount of money, one could get four lines in the UK," he claims.
Stirton accuses Telkom of making exorbitant profits for offering "a basic telephone service".
He plans to use the site to follow Telkom news and it is not for profit. The slogan and T-shirt ideas are for readers to make themselves and are not for sale, he says.
"If I had to profit from the site, then I could open myself up to legal action. The way it is, it seems they can`t touch me."
Telkom spokesman Andrew Weldrick says the group is aware of the site, but it does not plan to take any kind of litigation action at the moment.
"We have taken note of some of the comments made there and we reserve our rights," he says.
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