Trade union federation Cosatu has come out against the further privatisation of Telkom through a possible shares acquisition by a Korean company.

The deal would not benefit ordinary citizens, Cosatu said. “Telkom stands out as an example of what can go wrong in privatisation … worse services for the poor, high job losses and improvements only for business and the rich,” said Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven.

“They have reversed all the gains they previously made as a public entity and the poor have gained nothing out of this process.”

He said Cosatu condemned a proposed deal in which Korea’s KT Corp would take on a 20% stake in state-owned Telkom.

The proposed deal, said to be worth R4,6bn, would give the Korean company a strategic equity shareholding of 20% in the post-issue ordinary share capital of Telkom

Telkom would issue new shares for cash at a price of R36,06/share.

Telkom had been looking at ways to offset losses incurred by its mobile business and a failed expansion into Nigeria.

Craven said the ultimate goal of private companies was to maximise profit.

“No man or woman open[s] a business to meet challenges of poverty, unemployment or to provide services to the people.”

He said an increase in local telephone charges had made telecommunications inaccessible to citizens.

“Local charges rose 35% even after inflation in the past two years. At the same time, we saw a 40% fall in the cost of international phone calls, which mostly benefits business and the rich.”

Telkom listed on the JSE in 2003. — Sapa