NPA – is there anyone listening?

KEVIN MAYHEW
BUOY… oh… buoy, if the National Ports Authority of South Africa (NPA) is trying to get its ports in order it should start with one of its most important points of entry – its head office telephone system in Johannesburg. Call the latest listed number, and you are greeted by an automatic Telkom apologist telling you it has changed but the new number is presently not available. Try Telkom enquiries and they give you the number 011 351 9171. Try that and it is a direct line, so you get an irritating American voice telling you to leave a message but there is no facility to get you back to switchboard. The number is in fact 011 351 9001.