• The Department of Communication and Digital Technologies (DCDT) is conducting a review of the Postal Services Act.
• Of interest is Schedule 1 which outlines, among other things, SAPO being the sole body able to deliver packages of up to 1kg.
• South Africans have until 6th March to submit comments to the DCDT and potentially help change the Postal Services Act.

The South African Post Office (SAPO) is considered a failure by many. One doesn’t need to go very far to find somebody who has had a terrible experience with the entity what with packages, letters and more being lost or going undelivered for years.

Despite its reputation and multiple failings, SAPO is still operational and holding on to anything it can to remain operational. Of late, the entity has taken issue with the fact that folks are turning to couriers – and even ride-sharing apps – to have parcels delivered.

This attitude comes courtesy of the Postal Services Act which notes that only a reserved postal service may deliver items with a mass of up to 1kg, letters, postcards and even roadside collection and address boxes. The items with a mass of up to 1kg is perhaps the biggest point of contention among South Africans as that would mean that small orders from ecommerce platforms would have to be delivered by the Post Office.

As anybody who has used the Post Office in the last few years can attest, this would likely lead to longer delivery times, more lost packages and potentially more theft at distribution centres.

Thankfully, South Africans can influence change by submitting comments to the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT).

The DCDT is fielding comments as to the reserved postal services that apply exclusively to the Post Office for a review. These services include:

• Delivery of all letters, postcards, printed matter, small parcels and other postal articles weighing up to 1kg;
• Issuing of postage stamps;
• Provision of roadside collection and address boxes; and
• Provision of retail outlets at which customers can access reserved services.

What exactly this review will accomplish is unclear but we suspect that the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mondli Gungubele won’t be pleased with the situation at the Post Office.

Over the years hundreds of Post Office branches have been shuttered despite a number of bail outs from government. While SAPO has been trying to enforce the Postal Services Act, particularly as regards delivery of packages up to 1kg, the fact of the matter is that it’s an unreliable service and courier companies do a better job, even if it can cost a bit more.

South Africans can submit comments as to whether SAPO should be the only entity responsible for delivering packages and other reserved post in one of three ways.

• Email comments to pdlamini[at]dcdt[dot]gov[dot]za,
• Telephone: 012 427 8169 or 071 873 4202,
• Post: For the Attention of Ms Phendile Dlamini, Postal Policy, 1166 Park Street, Iparioli Office Park, Block Office A3, Hatfield, Pretoria, Private Bag X860, 0001 Pretoria.

Comments must be submitted by 6th March so we recommend that if you want to influence change to what many believe is a draconian piece of legislation that doesn’t take the failings of SAPO into account, you submit your comments sooner rather than later.