Urgent action is now needed to save post offices in South Africa, DA MP Natasha Mazzone said on Sunday.
In an answer to parliamentary questions by the DA, the ANC confirmed that more than 300 South African post offices have been closed within three years.
Mazzone, the DA’s spokesperson on communication and digital technology, says this is a clear indication of the complete mismanagement by the ANC government and disregard for citizens’ well-being.
“The closure of 314 branches, including 22 in the 2020-21 financial year, 146 in the 2021-22 financial year and 122 in the 2022-23 financial year and another 24 closures within the first month of the new financial year, demonstrates the dire state of affairs under the ANC regime,” says Mazzone.
“This shocking development not only undermines the integrity of our national postal service, but also affects millions of people who rely on local branches to access essential services, such as receiving their Sassa allowances.”
Mazzone says that if this trend continues, people will be forced to travel long distances to the nearest Sassa branch, which will only worsen their already challenging circumstances.
“Furthermore, the ANC government’s plan to establish a Post Bank owned by the South African Post Office (Sapo) is extremely worrying.
“How can the ANC expect a state bank to be successfully run by an institution that has failed to avoid liquidation and pay its employees for months on end? The potential collapse of such a bank would endanger the life savings of hundreds of thousands of people and further destroy the confidence of members of the public.”
According to Mazzone, the DA has consistently requested the ANC to manage Sapo transparently, with accountability and without “politically connected cadre puppets”.
“Unfortunately, our calls fell on deaf ears, leading to a desperate ANC scrambling to institute business rescue proceedings at the last minute without a comprehensive plan to deal with the core issues at Sapo.”
The party is now once again calling on the ANC government to act immediately.
“We urgently call for the privatization of certain aspects of Sapo to ensure its profitability as a state enterprise. This crucial step will not only ensure Sapo’s continued existence as the national postal service, but also guarantee the timely payment of salaries, medical aid and pensions to its dedicated employees.
“In addition, we extend an invitation to the minister of communications and digital technology, as well as other civil society organizations, to develop a well-defined and workable plan with us that does not burden taxpayers with repeated bailouts. We must save our post offices, protect the interests of our citizens and ensure a prosperous future for all.”
RNews reported earlier that the National Council of Provinces (NRP) approved the South African Postal Bank Amendment Bill.
The legislation paves the way for the facilitation of a transfer in shareholding from the Post Office to the government and the creation of a bank holding company for Postbank. This means that the bank moves under the supervision of the Post Office to this holding company and this again falls under the supervision of the department of communications and digital technology.
In short, this means that Postbank can do business as a full-fledged bank in terms of the provisions of the Reserve Bank.
Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa must ratify the legislation now.
