Information points to Post Office, just like all other public enterprises, is bankrupt

Information which the FF Plus has received, points to the SA Post Office (SAPO), just like all the other public enterprises, is bankrupt, and that is the reason why personnel of the Post Office were for the very first time not paid their salaries this month on pay-day, Adv. Anton Alberts, the FF Plus' parliamentary spokesperson on Communication, says.

Adv. Alberts says the situation is extremely worrying as the Post Office is one of the most important utility companies for the country without which communication and business enterprises could suffer damage as a lot of communication is still not being done electronically.

The latest development follows on the paralysing strike which at the beginning of the year already had cost the institution R100 million.

In addition, the strike of earlier this year was allegedly about money owed to workers and the fact that the Post Office could not offer anything but a 0% increase in wages during wage negotiations.

According to the FF Plus' information, workers heard on a radio station on 24 September that they would not be paid the next day. This was confirmed via electronic messaging services with all Post Office staff. Payment was only done today.

It is now feared that the situation could lead to renewed strikes and the big question is what is going to happen in the forthcoming month and whether there will be any money available at the end of October to pay salaries.

Adv. Alberts says the FF Plus will be asking the Auditor General to investigate the issue as the situation indicates a possible breach of the Public Finance Management Act.

Statement issued by Adv. Anton Alberts, FF Plus parliamentary spokesperson: Communication, September 26 2014

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