While Telkom has "had problems", communications minister Dina Pule has the integrity and ability to turn the company around, as well as spin the dynamics of the local telecoms industry in SA's favour.
This is according to Roy Kruger, Pule's technical advisor, speaking at a media briefing held by the Metro Ethernet Forum, in Midrand, yesterday. Kruger, who is also a qualified engineer, spoke out about recent statements in the media that he says were "taken out of context".
Kruger does not believe Telkom's recent misfortune and instability - with CEO Nombulelo "Pinky" Moholi resigning, followed by an exodus of other industry stalwarts who had been pegged to bring stability and success - is the result of an isolated incident.
"We all know Telkom has had problems, but contrary to media reports, I never insinuated that Pinky's resignation was the problem. It is an accumulation of things that have taken place over the past weeks."
Pule, says Kruger, is the one who can put the company back on track. He says, while the DOC is often depicted in a negative light by the media, "as if [the department] doesn't know what it is doing", Pule - as its leader - has the "integrity and ability" to run it, as well as to succeed in fulfilling government's objective of national broadband access by 2020.
SA's broadband policy - presented at the department's broadband workshop earlier this month - is already well on the way to completion, according to Kruger. "We will take the input garnered from the workshop and solidify the broadband policy document. It will be locked down over the next few weeks and sent to Cabinet for approval before the end of March next year."
Kruger was unable to comment on the inter-ministerial committee's "three options" for Telkom, or on what the recommendations entail. However, he believes Pule is the "best thing that has ever happened [to the department] - and that she will do the right thing to turn Telkom - and the industry at large - into the advantages the country needs".
Share
