Neotel versus the media
Business Report recently reported that “there are cultural clashes brewing at the country’s second fixed-line operator, Neotel.”
According to the article by technology journalist Thabiso Mochiko there “is animosity between South African Indian employees of Neotel and those who have been seconded to the group by its majority shareholder, India-based Tata.”
The article further states that many expatriates from India are in senior positions at Neotel, much to the chagrin of their local counterparts, and that some local managers are being undermined, as there is always someone to “babysit” them.
At the time Neotel said that “We don’t respond to rumours ‘in the market’. Instead we prefer to deal with facts as and when they are presented to us.”
The telecoms provider has however come out guns blazing after the article, saying that the report by Mochiko is not accurate and has damaged the Neotel brand in the public domain.
“The statement that ‘there are cultural clashes’ brewing at Neotel is not supported by facts, and neither is the referral to animosity between South African Indian employees of Neotel and those who have been seconded to the company by Tata Communications. No such issues have been brought to our attention, which means that it is pure speculation,” said Wandile Zote, Executive head of Corporate Communications & Branding at Neotel.
“It is of great concern to me that Mochiko was willing to damage a good corporate reputation in pursuit of a story. Basic ethics of modern day progressive journalism require journalists to identify and quote their sources directly.”
“When I wrote in my reply to her that Neotel does not respond to rumours in the market, I was challenging her to reveal her source so that I could better understand the context of her question. What if the ‘faceless market’ is a disgruntled former employee or even worse, someone working for one of our competitors?”
Neotel said that it is a young and vibrant company with a cosmopolitan mixture of employees from different backgrounds, including colleagues from India. “We are proud of our association with majority shareholder Tata Communications because it brings a wealth of experience to our business.”
Zote said that Neotel cannot risk being sidetracked from the bigger task of competing in the marketplace, but slated Business Report and Mochiko by adding that “perhaps your journalist can play her part by desisting from repeating lies in the hope that they will eventually become true.”
Neotel and cultural clash report – give your views
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