Is MTN CEO gone for good?

MBABANE — Tebogo Mogapi, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Swaziland, left the country on Monday, raising suspicions that he might be leaving permanently.

However, it is unknown if the troubled Mogapi has left for good given the non-renewal of his work permit by government. His work permit expired yesterday.  
According to reliable sources, Mogapi has decided to stay in his home country South Africa until the government grants him a work permit, if that will be the case.

“There is no point for him to stay in Swaziland if he cannot work and we cannot exactly take the work to his house because that would still be breaking the law, seeing that he has no permit,” said a senior employee at the mobile company who asked to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the matter.

According to the sources, only two weeks ago Mogapi presented his business plans and budgets to the MTN Group in South Africa.
Little did he know that his work permit would not be renewed and therefore he could not put into action whatever plans he had for the country.

Mogapi, in a very brief interview, confirmed that he was currently out of the country but could not be drawn to comment on whether his departure was permanent. Mogapi’s gardener who was found taking care of the CEO’s lawn, said he had not seen his employer since Monday.
The gardener said although nothing formal had been communicated to him, he had heard rumours that his employer was being ‘kicked’ out of the country.

“If the rumours are true and government does not renew his work permit then it is not just him that will be out of a job, by myself as well?”
He said Mogapi was a good man who had taken very good care of him and he would be very devastated should the CEO leave the country.

“It is nearing Christmas and most importantly schools reopen for the next year, so I definitely need the money to take care of my family,” he said.
The gardener also did not want his name revealed.             
According to a report carried by the Swazi News, MTN had already applied for Mogapi to work in Swaziland.

It reported that the waiver if granted would enable Mogapi to work in Swaziland while awaiting an appeal on his work permit application, that was dismissed a week ago.

The question on everyone’s lips is why the CEO’s work permit has not been renewed. Nobody is ready to provide answers as MTN itself has declined to comment on any matter that involves Mogapi, whilst government is also mum on the issue.
Mogapi recently had his contract renewed for three years, but that could prove meaningless should he not be granted the work permit.