Neotel's CFO reinstated

By Martin Czernowalow for Neotel
Johannesburg, 17 Oct 2008

Second national operator Neotel has reinstated its CFO, Arun Gupta, following his suspension last month.

At the time, the company cited allegations of “improper conduct” against Gupta, who joined the telecommunications company in mid-2006, after being seconded by Neotel's strategic equity partner, VSNL, a subsidiary of Tata.

“The investigation has been finalised, he was cleared and is now back at work,” says Neotel PR manager Zinhle Modiselle.

At the time of his suspension, Neotel would not comment on what the charges stemmed from, saying it would not discuss the issue publicly. Several sources previously claimed the “improper conduct” may not have been related to financial matters.

This morning, Modiselle again would not comment on the nature of the charges, or the investigation.

“It was kept at executive level, so I don't even know what was behind the charges,” she says.

Still suspended

Meanwhile, the Universal Service and Access Agency of SA (USAASA) has still not concluded its case against CEO James Theledi, who was suspended amid allegations of sexual harassment involving a senior USAASA manager.

The agency has not been willing to comment on the circumstances surrounding the allegations. However, sources have said the grievance stems from a dinner conversation between Theledi and a female colleague, at last month's Presidential International Advisory Council on Information Society and Development, held in Limpopo.

A USAASA spokesperson this morning explained that the investigation has been finalised, and the disciplinary process would now be launched.

“We hope to have the process completed before the end of October,” she says.

The agency's head of legal and regulatory affairs, Phineas Moleele, is still acting CEO.