Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko has been accused of incurring traffic fines of R18 000 in the name of another motorist after allegedly driving with falsified number plates and deceiving law enforcement agencies, Bloomberg reported on Friday.
The news wire agency said the figure is contained in court papers filed by prosecutors at the magistrate’s court in Wynberg, Johannesburg.
The R18 000 mentioned is less than the R30 000 that had been been previously reported.
Bloomberg said prosecutors allege that Maseko used a different licence plate to the one he was issued for a period of 18 months, ending in July 2014. This was when officials began their investigation.
The Star reported at the time that Maseko was driving around using his previous vehicle’s number plates, which were legally being used by businessman Mabena Motshoane, who had bought Maseko’s old Range Rover.
It reported that Maseko incurred traffic fines totalling R30 000, but these were sent to Motshoane.
By chance, Motshoane saw Maseko’s car on a Pretoria freeway and noticed he was using his number plates. He opened a case with the metro police, and a case of fraud with Booysens police.
The Star had seen the fines, photographs and video footage of Maseko driving his car with Motshoane’s number plates.
Earlier this week, however, Fin24 reported that Maseko had denied the allegations levelled against him.
“Sipho Maseko received a summons to appear in court on 5 June 2015 on allegations related to a motor vehicle licence plate,” Fin24 quoted Telkom spokesman Jacqui O’Sullivan as saying.
“The lack of clarity related to these allegations has been a frustration in resolving the issue. Having now received full discovery of the allegations, Maseko is now able to study the detail of the allegations and will respond accordingly.
“Maseko vehemently denies any intention to defraud any person or organisation and the necessary representations will be made to progress this matter.
“Maseko would like to address these claims and he now has the opportunity to do so, through the legal process,” said O’Sullivan.
Fin24 quoted Telkom as saying that the matter had been postponed to 4 September. — TechCentral, with Sapa
