Postal wars: SA Post Office and courier industry to battle over right to deliver small packages
SAPO has a ‘constitutionally justifiable’ monopoly on delivering items under 1kg but courier companies are taking the matter to court.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has criticised the South African Post Office (SAPO) and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) for attempting to stop courier companies from delivering small items that weigh less than one kilogram.
SAPO, Postnet and the SA Express Parcel Association will face off in court later this year. However, for now things remain as they are in the courier industry. The DA’s Deputy Shadow Minister of Communications, Cameron MacKenzie accused SAPO trying to have its cake and eat it too.
It’s no secret. Most South African’s have no faith in the SA Post Office. Many tell stories of lost packages, late mail or treasured items that have seemingly vanished. There’s further evidence to suggest this. A 2019 article published on MyBroadband notes that 80% of online shoppers do not trust the Post Office to deliver their packages. Despite this, the 29-year old SOE – together with ICASA (Independent Communications Authority of South Africa) – are fighting to stop private courier companies from delivering packages that weigh less than 1kg. Anton Roets, the attorney representing PostNet and the South African Express Parcel Association, has said if the Post Office and ICASA are successful, it could have “devastating consequences.” Roets was quoted saying “you will be required to use the services of a state-owned enterprise without certainty of when, and even if, the package will arrive.”
Postal service providers in court fight over 1kg package deliveries
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Pretoria - The SA Post Office, PostNet and SA Express Parcel Association are set to square off in court later this year regarding the delivery of packages weighing 1kg and less.
The Post Office said it was the only entity licensed in terms of the Postal Services Act to courier these packages.
PostNet earlier rushed to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, where it secured an urgent order to put a ruling on hold which would have prohibited the franchise from further couriering any package weighing a kilogram or less.
SA Post Office: These branches are now open after landlord negotiations
The SA Post Office announced the reopening of 27 branches on Monday, 10 May and more are expected to follow in the coming weeks.
The South African Post Office (SAPO) announced the reopening of some of the branches that were temporarily shut during extensive negotiations with the owners of their buildings. Earlier this year SAPO announced the closure of approximately 53 branches countrywide because of payment disputes.
POST OFFICE BRANCHES TO REOPEN ON 10 MAY
Twenty-seven post office branches in seven provinces will resume normal trading from Monday, 10 May after their temporary closure earlier this year. SAPO said negotiations with the landlords of the branches that remain closed are continuing, adding that they are expected to also resume operations, within the next few weeks, once an agreement is reached with property owners.
May 7, 2021
Data is the world’s most valuable commodity and the government has a critical responsibility to release spectrum in a manner that guarantees entrance for new market players, lower costs and equitable distribution.
This is the word from Ignition Telecoms CEO Valde Ferradaz, who highlights the importance of connecting the nation through digital channels.
He told a recent virtual conference that, without “fairly and responsibly” opening up the country’s spectrum to new competition, MNVOs and investment, that capacity was wasted.
“Valuable spectrum will be wasted if the same monopolies are allowed to generate bigger wealth instead of diversifying and allowing for spectrum to be more broadly used,” he says. “This is the natural evolution by which the government can grow the economy – they have no choice beyond recognising data plays an invaluable role in that process.”