Knott-Craig has his work cut out: Joosub

Vodacom Group chief executive officer Shameel Joosub says that current Cell C CEO, and former Vodacom CEO, Alan Knott-Craig “has his work cut out”.

Speaking at a round table event in Sandton on Friday (28 September), Joosub said: “He’s (Knott-Craig) been a leader in the industry….he’s a very clever guy, but he has got his work cut out.”

He stressed that Vodacom would stay competitive. “Vodacom is not going to roll-over,” Joosub said.

The Vodacom chief noted that in some instances the company would react to its competitors, whereas in other instances it would lead.

“The point is not just matching it, but giving your customers even better value,” Joosub said. “You have to have a strategy and deliver on that strategy.”

Since taking over at Cell C, Knott-Craig has implemented a number of price reductions in the data space, led by a prepaid voice product and tariff plan called “99 Cents For Real”.

On Friday, Vodacom said it would cut its international call rates to 51 destinations to 89 cents per minute, as of 1 October. Billing would be done on a per second basis, and subscribers would be charged R5 per month for the service.

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