The Sunday Times reported this weekend that former Vodacom chief executive, Alan Knott-Craig, allegedly receives R1 million a month as a "retainer" as part of a 2 year long restraint of trade agreement he has with Vodacom. Knott-Craig, who cited family and health reasons for his retirement from the mobile network giant in 2009, countered the allegations stating that he receives "less than R500 000 per month". As if that is any better.

The ex Vodacom chief was reportedly contracted into the restraint of trade agreement after Vodacom learnt that Telkom was planning a forray into the mobile communications market once the transfer to UK cellular giant Vodafone was concluded. It would appear then that his retirement for "family and health concerns" was rubbish. Why work for a living when you can earn half a bar a month doing, well, nothing?

But the really ironic bit has to be the little three week episode last year during October when Knott-Craig suddenly decided to appoint himself as the champion of the telecoms consumer by lambasting the high cost of Telecoms. Here's a thought Mr Knott-Craig - perhaps the telecoms costs are so high because men like you fleece the companies for every possible cent they can? The noble thing would have been to retire gracefully and step out of the spotlight, instead of keeping your grubby, greedy little paws in the till. Knott-Craig: you are a definite candidate for facepalm of the year!