Telkom stands by its decision to suspend the telephone services of certain Departments of the Northern Province Provincial government, following the non-payment of telecommunications accounts amounting to millions of rands. These have been outstanding for a considerable time dating back to October 1999.
Telkom has not suspended any emergency phone numbers in the Province, and it recently restored the phone services of the Province`s Department of Health and Welfare, following receipt of a payment of R7.7 million on Friday last week.
However, numerous appeals from senior representatives of Telkom to the Northern Province government have not elicited payment of the outstanding amount. Telkom is demanding the immediate payment of at least R12 million before the suspension is lifted.
Following media reports that Telkom has wrongfully suspended these services, the Company places on record that it is only holding the Northern Province responsible for the payment of services that they have been using. Numerous meetings and joint sessions have taken place between senior representatives of Telkom and the provincial government, where Telkom provided thorough breakdowns of the relevant accounts, including debtor and age analyses.
Telkom is not holding the provincial government responsible for the payment of any accounts it may be disputing. The services that were incorrectly reflected on their accounts were corrected as early as July 1999. The Province also indicated that they are being billed for services in other Provinces such as Mpumalanga and North West. Fact is, a senior government official confirmed in writing during February 2000 that the Northern Province Provincial Government is responsible for payment of these accounts.
Discussions between Telkom and the provincial government officials are continuing, and every effort is being made to come to an arrangement that would enable Telkom to reconnect the services as quickly as possible.
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