Post office rescue plans

The South African Post Office (Sapo) implemented long-term initiatives to diversify its income, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic had economic downturn effects.

Sapo spokesman Johan Kruger said they planned to play a bigger role in e-commerce.

“We also plan to increase our role as service access point for government services. We already offer car licence renewals and the payment of social grants,” he said.

Millicent Tingwe, spokeswoman for the department of communications and digital technologies, said the plans have started to show results, and the post office identified quick solutions that would improve its income in the short-term.

Kruger said the short-term plans included saving costs.

“In the short term, we are making sure that cost-saving is optimal and that our invoices are paid promptly,” he said.

Tingwe said the department, as the shareholder, continued to work closely with the post office to strengthen the executive management of the entity.

Nomkhita Mona was recently appointed as the new chief executive officer of Sapo for a five-year term. The position had been vacant since 2019.

Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams said Sapo was a key stakeholder in delivering on government’s developmental objectives of improving access to basic services in previously underserviced communities.

“Its network was the largest point of presence nationally and able to connect government, businesses and citizens anywhere in South Africa,” she said.