<html><body><div style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Tshepo,</div><div style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Ok I will take Gugu out of this line of conversation.</div><div style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br></div><div style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I see you are Tshepo Masuku <TshepoMasuku26@hotmail.com></div><div style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br></div><div style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Are you related to the other Tshepo Masuku <tshepomasuku16@gmail.com> who has also been frequently posting on this list?</div><div style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br></div><div style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Kind Regards</div><div style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Ben </div><div style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br></div><div id="ms-outlook-mobile-signature"><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr;">Get <a href="https://aka.ms/GetOutlookForMac" data-outlook-id="b742aecb-33ce-44ad-a7a2-39233ef915ee">Outlook for Mac</a></div></div><div id="mail-editor-reference-message-container"><div style="padding: 3pt 0in 0in; border-width: 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(181, 196, 223) currentcolor currentcolor;"><div class="ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message skipProofing" style="text-align: left; font-family: Aptos; font-size: 12pt; color: black;"><b>From: </b>Tshepo Masuku <TshepoMasuku26@hotmail.com><br><b>Date: </b>Tuesday, 21 July 2026 at 18:10<br><b>To: </b>ben.roberts@frinic.net <ben.roberts@afrinic.net>; Gugu Dhlamini <gugudhlamini343@gmail.com><br><b>Cc: </b>rpd@afrinic.net <rpd@afrinic.net><br><b>Subject: </b>Re: [rpd] Policy supremacy<br><br></div></div><div class="ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">
Hi Ben,</div><div class="ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"><br>
</div><div class="ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">
I speak only for myself. I reviewed the message, agree with it, and stand behind it. Similar wording does not prove shared identity or automation.</div><div class="ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"><br>
</div><div class="ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">
If you have evidence of impersonation, submit it to the co-chairs. Otherwise, please address the policy rather than speculate about participants.</div><div class="ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"><br>
</div><div class="ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">
I will not continue this side discussion.</div><div class="ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"><br>
</div><div class="ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">
Regards,</div><div class="ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">
Tshepo</div><div id="ms-outlook-mobile-body-separator-line" dir="auto" style="font-family:Aptos,Aptos_MSFontService,-apple-system,Roboto,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:12pt"><div style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br>
</div></div><div dir="auto" id="ms-outlook-mobile-signature" style="font-family:Aptos,Aptos_MSFontService,-apple-system,Roboto,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:rgb(33,33,33)"><span style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">Get
<a href="https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg" data-outlook-id="a60eb1ae-b96a-4c87-967c-cae92d9cdc88">Outlook for Android</a></span></div><hr style="display: inline-block; width: 98%;"><div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>From:</b> ben.roberts@frinic.net <ben.roberts@afrinic.net><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, 21 July 2026 18:02:36<br>
<b>To:</b> Tshepo Masuku <TshepoMasuku26@hotmail.com>; Gugu Dhlamini <gugudhlamini343@gmail.com><br>
<b>Cc:</b> rpd@afrinic.net <rpd@afrinic.net><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [rpd] Policy supremacy</span>
<div> </div></div><div class="ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
So you used the same prompt into the same AI tool and emailed the same reply ? Excuse my skepticism, but are you the same person with different personas ? Or just AI agents running the same script ?</div><div class="ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br>
</div><div class="ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
I think thats a fair question to ask given the circumstances?</div><div class="ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br>
</div><div class="ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Kind Regards,</div><div class="ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br>
</div><div class="ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Ben</div><div class="ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br>
</div><div id="x_ms-outlook-mobile-signature"><div class="x_MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr;">Get <a href="https://aka.ms/GetOutlookForMac" data-outlook-id="afd51344-9292-482d-b8ae-aefa96581694">
Outlook for Mac</a></div></div><div id="x_mail-editor-reference-message-container"><div style="padding: 3pt 0in 0in; border-width: 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(181, 196, 223) currentcolor currentcolor;"><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="text-align: left; font-family: Aptos; font-size: 12pt; color: black;"><b>From: </b>Tshepo Masuku <TshepoMasuku26@hotmail.com><br>
<b>Date: </b>Tuesday, 21 July 2026 at 17:55<br>
<b>To: </b>Ben Roberts - AfriNIC <ben.roberts@afrinic.net>; Gugu Dhlamini <gugudhlamini343@gmail.com><br>
<b>Cc: </b>rpd@afrinic.net <rpd@afrinic.net><br>
<b>Subject: </b>Re: [rpd] Policy supremacy<br>
<br>
</div></div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">
Hi Ben,</div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"><br>
</div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">
The similarity is not mysterious. We addressed the same phrase, and drafting assistance can produce similar wording. I reviewed my message, agree with it, and stand behind it.</div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"><br>
</div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">
Your profile provides context, but it does not confer a higher status in an open PDP. If affiliation disclosure is to be required, it must be a clear rule applied equally to everyone.</div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"><br>
</div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">
I will not engage further in authorship speculation.</div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"><br>
</div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">
Regards,</div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">
Tshepo</div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"><br>
</div><div id="x_ms-outlook-mobile-body-separator-line" dir="auto" style="font-family:Aptos,Aptos_MSFontService,-apple-system,Roboto,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:12pt"><div style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br>
</div></div><div id="x_ms-outlook-mobile-signature" dir="auto" style="font-family:Aptos,Aptos_MSFontService,-apple-system,Roboto,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:rgb(33,33,33)"><span style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">Get
</span><span style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg" data-outlook-id="97890240-2bd4-4b36-8cc6-90066d86dde4">Outlook for Android</a></span></div><hr style="display: inline-block; width: 98%;"><div id="x_divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>From:</b> Ben Roberts - AfriNIC <ben.roberts@afrinic.net><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, 21 July 2026 17:47:59<br>
<b>To:</b> Tshepo Masuku <TshepoMasuku26@hotmail.com>; Gugu Dhlamini <gugudhlamini343@gmail.com><br>
<b>Cc:</b> rpd@afrinic.net <rpd@afrinic.net><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [rpd] Policy supremacy</span>
<div> </div></div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Gugu and Tshepo,</span></div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br>
</span></div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Perhaps you can explain to us how you ended up thinking of near identical opening sentences to your emails ? </span></div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;"><br>
</div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">“Introductions can be helpful, but they are voluntary. They should not become an informal test of who qualifies as a “genuine” community member.”</span></div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br>
</span></div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">“</span><span style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> introductions can provide context, but they should not become a test of whether someone
is a “genuine” community member.”</span></div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br>
</span></div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">By way of introduction, my profile can be found here.
</span><a href="https://btw.media/en/governance/rir-watchdog/afrinic/benjamin-mark-roberts" data-outlook-id="d72ea7a8-e9bd-41a5-94e5-3b2823e0f2d6">https://btw.media/en/governance/rir-watchdog/afrinic/benjamin-mark-roberts</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br>
</span></div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Kind Regards</span></div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Ben</span></div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br>
</span></div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br>
</span></div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br>
</span></div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br>
</span></div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;">
Sent from my iPhone</div><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;"><br>
</div><blockquote><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;">
On 21 Jul 2026, at 17:15, Tshepo Masuku <TshepoMasuku26@hotmail.com> wrote:<br>
<br>
</div></blockquote><blockquote><div class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;">
</div><p class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Hi Ben,</span></p><p class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;"><span style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Introductions can provide context, but they should not become a test of whether someone is a “genuine” community member.</span></p><p class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;"><span style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">An open process cannot presume that familiar participants belong while newcomers must prove themselves. If affiliation disclosure
is important, it should be a clear and equal rule covering everyone, including employers, clients, funding, and organisational interests.</span></p><p class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;"><span style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Until such a rule exists, contributions should be judged by their substance and conduct, not by whether the established circle
recognises the sender.</span></p><p class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;"><span style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Regards,<br>
Tshepo</span></p><p class="x_ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message x_skipProofing" style="direction: ltr;"><span style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"><br>
</span></p></blockquote></div></div></body></html>