Fixed-line operator Telkom has distanced itself from claims that it is at the “centre of a bitter row” involving accusations of fraud between black-owned ICT company Kwezi Technologies and its former partner Amdocs SA.
News of the dispute broke yesterday in a well-known business daily.
However, Telkom has slammed its association with the matter as an unprofessional and unethical attempt to fabricate a link between two independent parties that provide services to Telkom, through a consortium, Amdocs SA Joint Enterprises (Asaje).
Kwezi claims that, since leaving the consortium, Amdocs - the majority shareholder in the consortium - has illegally used Kwezi's BEE credentials, and that of two other empowerment partners to win Telkom contracts worth R870 million.
Kwezi has taken legal action against Amdocs, claiming it is entitled to a share of the profits. Both Asaje and Kwezi declined to comment.
Telkom points out that the tenders referred to in the article were awarded directly to Asaje, and not individually to any of the organisations that make up its BEE equity shareholding.
The company says the story insinuates that Telkom may not have followed strict adherence to due diligence measures in the awarding of a tender to Asaje.
“For the record, Telkom states that the matter was previously raised with Telkom by Mkhabela Huntley Adekeye, representing Kwezi Technologies.
“Telkom sought clarification from Asaje and subsequently received a letter from Gildenhuys Lessing Malatji Attorneys, representing Asaje, that the matter was a dispute between shareholders,” explains Telkom.
“Legal teams from Kwezi and Asaje were dealing with the matter, and Telkom has consistently maintained that it has no involvement in the matter.”
Telkom explains that it has clarified Asaje's BEE shareholding status. “Even without taking Kwezi's shareholding into consideration, Asaje would still have a 35% equity shareholding, which is acceptable to Telkom for the awarding of tenders.”
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