Telkom CEO in car licence cloning scandal

The Star has reported that Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko is at the centre of a City of Johannesburg metro police (JMPD) investigation into a car licence cloning scandal.

The newspaper reported that Maseko “stands accused of running up about R30 000 in traffic fines – to be paid by another driver”.

Businessman Mabena Motshoane spotted his cloned number plates on a black Range Rover while driving on the highway.

He gave chase and stopped the driver in the black Range Rover, and found out that it was Telkom CEO Maseko.

“I asked him why he was driving around with my number plates, and he gave me a vague answer that his old black Range Rover had that number plate and he had personalised it to his own name,” The Star quoted Motshoane as saying.

According to the report, Motshoane “later discovered his car had previously been owned by Maseko”.

The JMPD sent officers to Maseko’s Houghton home to inspect the vehicle, but the newspaper reported that they were refused entry.

“Maseko agreed to take the car to Martindale, the JMPD headquarters, a few days later,” the newspaper said. When he did, the vehicle now had the plates 414 TVL GP – the same numbers and letters as Motshoane’s plate, but in the reverse order.

According to Motshoane: “People in high places have been calling me and asking me to drop this, but I can’t”.

MyBroadband contacted Telkom for feedback regarding the issue, but the company did not respond by the time of publication.

The full The Star report is available here

Further reporting by SAPA

Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko is under investigation after being implicated in an alleged car licence cloning case, the City of Johannesburg said on Friday, 25 July 2014.

“Whatever is happening in terms of allegations about him [Maseko] being on the wrong side of the law is being investigated by the Johannesburg metro police department (JMPD),” said city spokesman Nthatisi Modingoane.

He could not say what sort of case was being investigated by the metro police.

“Everything [all questions] that has to do with the case should go to JMPD because the city is not an investigating agent,” he said.

Metro police spokesman Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said the case was not public information.

“Any traffic offence or criminal charge against individuals is a matter between that individual and the State. Until such time that the case enters court, then it becomes public information.”

The Star reported on Friday that Maseko was driving around using his previous vehicle’s number plates, which were legally being used by businessman Mabena Motshoane, who had purchased Maseko’s old Range Rover.

It reported that Maseko incurred traffic fines totalling R30,000, but that these were sent to Motshoane to pay.

Motshoane came across Maseko’s vehicle using his number plates on a Pretoria freeway by chance.

He opened a case with the metro police, and a case of fraud with the Booysens police station, according to the newspaper.

Metro police officers went to Maseko’s home, but were reportedly denied permission to inspect his vehicle.

According to the newspaper, the officers were later instructed to leave Maseko’s Houghton home after allegedly being told that city manager Trevor Fowler had intervened in the matter. Modigoane denied that Fowler was involved.

A few days later, metro police were allowed to inspect the vehicle, but by then Maseko’s number plates had allegedly been changed.

The Star said it had seen the fines, and photographs and video footage of Maseko driving the car with Motshoane’s number plates.

Maseko told the newspaper he had contacted Fowler.

“… I was scared and nervous and the only person I could think of was Trevor Fowler. All Mr Fowler did was refer me to someone in the JMPD who could assist me,” he was quoted as saying.

Telkom spokesman Pynee Chetty declined to comment on Friday.

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