The Department of South African Post Office – (SAPO), addressed the media in Pretoria at GCIS Tshedimosetso House yesterday.
The SAPO briefed the media to respond to matters relating to social grant payment systems, strategic interventions on e-commerce, SAPO security-related matters, cost containment initiatives and pertinent issues circulating on the media landscape.
Chairperson of the (SAPO) Colleen Makhubele, said there is lack of implementation and the courier business needs to be improved.
“We are losing customers annually and this shows in our declining revenues, even in e-commerce we have been slow in capitalising on our strategic advantage.
“When this new board took over in November 2019, there were no new initiatives that were generating revenue, there was no e-commerce, SASSA grants payments had serious challenges which needed urgent attention especially going into the November/ December critical payment period.’’ Ms Makhubele said.
She said there were reported high crimes of robberies in branches and the cash- in- transit vans and this excludes the fraud at ATMs.
“General performance was a problem as it manifested in the late delivery of cash in some of the areas. “In other areas, there are long queues and there is no shelter to accommodate the elderly people or chairs or water.
“There is also no assistance for the disabled and beneficiaries that fall victim to unfortunate incidents of fraud are not properly attended to. As a board, we are focused on changing the way the SAPO do business.” She said.
Ms Tia van der Sandt, Deputy Chairperson of (SAPO), said, ‘‘The board’s 90-day plan driven by the (SAPO) 2020 strategic plan, is focused on the electronic bill payment system, Box Email for live solution, warehouse and distribution of medicines, electronic registered Emails and SMS, Financial and services including insurance and fast-tracking of SASSA payments especially in areas lacking adequate infrastructure.’’
Acting Chief Executive Officer of (SAPO), Ivumile Nongogo, on the closing of cash payments points, that cash payments points are the sole responsibility of Security Agency- SASSA. “They make the decisions whether to continue with cash payments points or to close.”
