New Bill aims to reboot the ailing SA Post Office

President Cyril Ramaphosa has given the nod to a new Bill that the government hopes will reboot the ailing South African Post Office.

- Ciaran Ryan

Last year, it was placed in business rescue, owing creditors R8.7 billion.

Government hopes the South African Post Office Amendment Bill will breathe new life into one of SA's oldest surviving institutions, founded in 1792.

The Bill expands the South African Post Office's (Sapo) mandate and repurposes its infrastructure to provide a broader range of services.

Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi said last month the government wanted value for the nearly R176 million spent on the business rescue process so far—a cost that has been criticised by trade unions.

The intention is to pursue public-private partnerships to help wean the post office off National Treasury funding and return it to financial respectability.

The new mandate allows the post office to expand its services beyond essential postal services into other value-added services.