Final say

Firstly, I must admit that I was also very gung-ho on the prospect of having a woman at the helm on one of the largest companies in SA.

I also learned that the recently announced executive reshuffle in the name of `streamlining top reporting structures` and `executive focus`, which saw CTO Rueben September become COO and Mandla Ngcobo chief of corporate affairs, made certain members of the executive a little bit uncomfortable, to say the least.

Though not confirmed, my source indicated that two of the company`s top talents are on their way out, following the changes. It seems they`re unhappy with the way the restructuring was...uh... structured, and are fixing to make a grand exit, but not before they get legal advice.

It is further alleged that outgoing CEO, Sizwe Nxasana, had fallen into disrepute with some of those seated at the top of the Tower and they, in turn, made sure that a renewal of the "shareholder`s CEO" as he was fondly referred to, was not an option.

With Telkom facing many challenges, ranging from a resistance to the utility`s perceived high call charges, to perpetual workforce reduction, to sustaining the steep increase in the company`s share price and the looming introduction of a competitor, it seems that Molotsane had a steep enough hill to climb, without having to watch his back.

Some of you may know all of this already, some might still be trying to pick their jaws up off the floor. But I still think it`s a sad state of affairs when the restructuring of a company is decided the same way kids on a playground decide who to be friends with this season.

The Last Byte

Ivy does it again

"I really don`t know how these prepaid cell phones work," and "I tell my staff that they must explain things to me the way they will explain them to their grandmothers... that way Cabinet will understand," were two of the pearls of wisdom our beloved Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri dropped at the Womens` "Mutingati" on the Information Society, held in Cape Town last week. Her loyal staff claims these were examples of the Minister`s dry wit, but others insist it was just dry.

UK huff and puff

Former UK e-envoy Andrew Pinder apparently got into a huff about not being guaranteed appointments with SA government officials, including Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool, and decided not to come to the Information Society Week events held in Cape Town. Pinder, a former British tax official who now offers consulting services, apparently saw the trip as a great means to promote his business interests at others` expense (ISW organisers), which were supposed to include paid-for business class tickets, accommodation and nosh. Oh well... so sad, too bad.

The apple of our eye

Apple IMC, distributors for Apple in SA and by all accounts its official face locally, tries to enforce very draconian rules on journalists, including granting no telephonic interviews - only in writing or face-to-face with recording devices. Understandably flabbergasted, our journo protested, or at least pointed out some practical and principle-based problems. To which the PR intermediary reacted by sending the following note to her client: "This man is dangerous." The only problem is, she sent it to the journalist as well. He isn`t sure whether to take it as a compliment. We think so.