Urgent action needed to save South African Post Offices
25 June 2023
The revelation in a reply to a Parliamentary Question by the DA that over 300 South African Post Offices (SAPO) have been closed by the ANC government within a mere three-year period is a clear indication of complete mismanagement and disregard for the well-being of our citizens.
The closure of 314 branches, including 22 in 2020/21, 146 in 2021/22, and 122 in 2022/21, with an additional 24 closures within the first month of this financial year, demonstrates the dire state of affairs under ANC rule.
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 grants. If this trend continues, individuals may be forced to travel long distances to the nearest SASSA outlet, exacerbating their already challenging circumstances.
Furthermore, the ANC government's plan to establish a Postbank owned by SAPO is deeply concerning. How can the ANC expect a state bank to be successfully operated 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 jeopardise the life savings of hundreds of thousands of people and further erode public trust.