JOHANNESBURG – South African world 200m bronze medallist Anaso Jobodwana criticised Telkom on Wednesday for choosing a foreign athlete, world champion Usain Bolt, to market fibre broadband.
Jobodwana said on radio it was "disappointing" that local athletes had not been chosen.
"Wayde [van Niekerk] is fastest in the world and he is South African. It just sent out sent out this message that we are not good enough," he told Kaya FM's Mosibodi Whitehead.
Jobodwana added that Bolt was already a brand ambassador with a telephone company in Jamaica.
Telkom announced Bolt as the face of its campaign in November and has since been criticised for overlooking local athletes.
Telkom spokesperson Jacqui O’Sullivan said Telkom would soon announce deals with local athletes.
"Telkom has huge respect for our local sports stars and their achievements. We are working on some exciting ideas for local athletics in the coming Olympic year and we look forward to announcing those in due course."
