Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services Dr Siyabonga Cwele welcomes the Cabinet decision to approve the appointment of Mr Mark Barnes as the Group Chief Executive Officer of the SA Post Office

19 November 2015

The Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services Dr Siyabonga Cwele welcomes the decision by Cabinet to approve the appointment of Mr Mark Barnes as the Group Chief Executive Officer of the SA Post Office (SAPO). Mr Barnes is appointed for a five-year period, starting on 15 January 2016.

Mr Barnes was recommended by the SAPO Board following their recruitment process.

“This appointment will help us address one of the two main challenges faced by the SAPO, that of creating leadership stability. This stable leadership will help the board to implement the Strategic Turnaround Plan that was approved by Cabinet in June this year. In August, Cabinet approved the appointment of the current board. I believe the board is capable and needs an equally capable management team to turn the post office around,” said Minister Cwele.

These three Cabinet decisions underpin Government’s commitment to turning around and modernising the post office to be competitive in a rapidly interconnected world. SAPO has a large network that can be used as an access point to government services by communities, especially those in rural areas. The post office remains a crucial institution because in some communities, it is the only financial services institution.

“We continue to engage the National Treasury to find ways of investing in the post office. The Strategic Turnaround Plan needs to be funded, especially the revenue generating aspects that include new venturing into new services such as banking and electronic services. The board and management have done everything possible on the cost-cutting and cost-containment side. For an example, onerous contracts have been cut,” said Minister Cwele.

Minister acknowledged the role that SAPO employees have played over the past year in helping the company stabilise.

“The SAPO employees in general, and in particular, those that I have met at mail sorting centres and retail outlets in large city and rural towns across the country, are determined to provide a good service to customers,” said Minister Cwele.

He urged the board and management to continue working with employees to ensure that the Strategic Turnaround Plan is fully implemented.

In accepting the responsibility, Mr Barnes said the following; “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve my country in what I hope will prove the case for sustainable partnerships between government, labour and business”.

Issued by the Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal Services, 19 November 2015