Another SAPO branch closes down around Kathorus

The South African Post Office’s ( SAPO) operational costs continue to exceed its revenue, affecting consumers and landlords who are in lease agreements with the SAPO.

SAPO owes at least R304-million to landlords. This has led to an interruption in its services as many SAPS branches close doors.

The recent local post office to close is the Spuritview branch at the Lifestyle Shopping Complex.

Its closure follows the closure of three other branches in Eden Park, Lesedi Shopping Centre at Vosloorus and Sontonga Mall at Katlehong.

It was closed because of rental arrears, leaving many communities that mainly depend on it for social grant collection and the Covid-19 SRD relief fund stranded.

According to SAPO communications officer Johan Kruger, the Spruitview Post Office will remain temporarily closed but it will reopen.

He said the branch is on a priority list and will be reopened as soon as possible. The nearest alternative post office is the Leondale branch in the Leondale SPAR.

Spruitview Post Office apologises to its customers for the inconvenience.

Customers will have to dig deep in their pockets to acquire the post office’s services, as this is a countrywide challenge.

The Minister of Communication and Digital Technologies, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said as of January 31, 2022, R304-m was owed to landlords.

She said the amounts owed to landlords include rental, operational and utility costs in a written reply issued by the national assembly, responding to questions from the FF Plus’ Wouter Wessels.

Ntshavheni added as of February 10, 2022, the municipalities’ bills reached R915 000, which is only the current costs for the month.

“SAPO’s costs have continued to exceed revenue, resulting in losses for the year ending March 31, 2021, and for the 10 months ending January 31, 2022. The losses are unfunded, resulting in SAPO having insufficient funds to settle liabilities.

“SAPO does not currently have the required funds to settle the liabilities,” said Ntshavheni.

She, however, said SAPO has developed a revised strategy to improve its operational and financial performance, which is in the process of implementation.

Ntshavheni added SAPO has requested funding through the medium-term expenditure framework process to pay its operational costs.