service delivery
9 October 2007
South Africa today joins the rest of the world in celebrating the World Post
Day in Atteridgeville, Gauteng. This annual celebration is co-coordinated by
the Department of Communications with the South African Post Office (SAPO) and
the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa). This year's
celebration is held under the theme: 'The world-wide postal network - stay
connected.' This fitting global theme recognises the role of the South African
Post Office as a global e-service network that is empowering and mobilising
citizens in every corner of South Africa and connecting them to the rest of the
world.
South Africa has dedicated the month of October as the Postal Service Month
and will highlight the significance of the Post Office in the new digital era.
Today, with modern technology, the role of Post Office has increasingly become
more diversified with the Post Office at the coalface of government service
delivery. To this end, last month Communications Minister, Ivy
Matsepe-Casaburri took a policy decision that some of SAPO Post Offices will be
transformed into Thusong Post Offices to provide access to a variety of
government and other services, especially faster, secure and easier access to
enabling documents and social grants. Thusong is a Sesotho / Setswana word
meaning a place where you can get help.
Earlier this year, Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, signed a memorandum of agreement
with the Minister of Social Development, Zola Skweyiya. The agreement will
ensure that the majority of South Africans can access their social security
grants at the post offices. "Based on the footprint of post offices in the
country, the agreement is a milestone and will ensure that the elderly, the
disabled, and rural communities, benefit the most," says the Minister of
Communications, Matsepe-Casaburri.
The day will also mark the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal
Postal Union (UPU) in 1874 in the Swiss capital, Bern. "With a history of more
than 200 years, the Post Office is a true part of the community," says Vuyo
Mahlati, the Chairperson of the South African Post Office. "We are proving this
with projects such as paying land claims through Postbank and opening 70
outlets during the past financial year. Not only do our stamps commemorate
historical events, they celebrate new achievements â such as the 2nd Universal
Postal Union conference on African soil in 2008."
In keeping up with the tradition, South African Post Office cyclists will
deliver a letter that this year will be coming from the CEO of the Namibian
Post Office to the Acting CEO of the SAPO. Last year, Minister of
Communications received a letter from her Swaziland counterpart.
Note to the Editors
South Africa will also launch a Joint African Stamp in support of Kenya
hosting the 24th Universal Postal Union (UPU) Congress next year. Other African
countries will launch similar stamps and 50% of the proceeds generated from the
stamp will support Kenya in organising the UPU congress.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) is the
regulatory body responsible for postal services.
For media enquiries:
Albi Modise
Cell: 083 490 2871
Joe Makhafola
Cell: 082 888 8966
Issued by: Department of Communications
9 October 2007
