There is something you can do about Telkom.

Michael Alachouzos, a New York attorney and an SA advocate, was a surprise speaker at today's iWeek 2007 Conference (presentations available here).  He has asked me to make his contact details available for anyone who is interested (see below).

Why would you be interested?  Seems Michael has extensive experience of bringing  monopolies to book through shareholder rights.  If he can get a group of more than 100 like-minded Telkom shareholders together (you only need one share), there are certain obligations that Telkom have w.r.t. being more transparent and accountable.

He is offering shares in Telkom that Mark Shuttleworth will apparently pay for!

If you want to get hold of him:

Michael Alachouzos
011-886-0191
076-818-2653
smda (at) mkohlhaas.org
64 Waterfall Avenue, Craighall, 2196, JHB

I'm intrigued!

Errata

Seems I got the bull by the udder on a few points - please see Michael's comments on this post for clarification.  The concept of getting involved as shareholders in any public entity in order to influence accountability and transparency and general good governance is a good one if time and money allow.

Comments

[DaveG]

Thanks for correcting those misunderstandings - will follow proceedings with interest.

[Michael Alachouzos]

A couple of slight but potentially important inaccuracies in the above blog entry (but, otherwise, thanks for putting my contact details up here, Digital Pigrim):

1. I mentioned what 100+ shareholders could do merely as one of a number of exqamples of minority-shareholder rights in South African company law. There are other things which much FEWER than 100 shareholders --- and, indeed, which even ONE registered shareholder (with even one share) can do.

2. The shares which are being offered are being offered by Telecommunications-activist friends/clients of mine --- not by me personally --- and have in fact ALREADY BEEN paid for with money provided by, I understand, the Shuttleworth FOUNDATION (not Mr Shuttleworth directly).

Michael Alachouzos
smda@mkohlhaas.org

[Bruce]

Hi Dave,
normally there has to be a collective 10% holding for them to make a difference (if memory serves me correct). Would be good though.