Axed Telkom operations chief Motlatsi Nzeku may have been gunning for CEO Reuben September’s job. A well-placed but independent source says Nzeku, who was fired late last week, had been eyeing the top job at the telecommunications company for some time. <\/p>\n
Nzeku, who had risen rapidly through Telkom’s ranks — he was chief of procurement and then chief information officer before landing the operations job — had been actively fighting a planned restructuring at the group. “He was not a team player,” the FM’s source says. <\/p>\n
Relations between September and Nzeku broke down completely. But another source says Nzeku, while highly ambitious, shouldn’t shoulder all the blame for the breakdown — September’s management style contributed to the tensions, the source says. <\/p>\n
Under the planned restructuring, Nzeku’s responsibilities would likely have been reduced — an effective demotion. Three new divisions will be created — SA operations, international operations, and data centre operations — with September wanting the new structure in place by April 1. The heads of the new divisions will report directly to September. It is understood that Nzeku, who could not be reached for comment — his cellphone and Sim card have been returned to Telkom — was not guaranteed one of the top jobs in the new structure. <\/p>\n
Telkom issued a harsh statement last Friday in which it accused Nzeku of causing “reputational damage amounting to defamation of the company and its leadership”. It also insinuated that he had failed to address service delivery problems, a principal responsibility of the chief of operations. <\/p>\n
A source says Nzeku had been asked to part ways with the company two or three weeks ago, before being sacked last week, but he declined to go quietly. <\/p>\n
Now he is reportedly planning to fight Telkom in the courts. He has also reportedly drafted a dossier of allegations against September, which is in the hands of the group’s directors. <\/p>\n