Post Office works on improving service

by centra
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The South African Post Office (SAPO) has announced the reopening of most branches that were temporarily closed following extensive negotiations with landlords. The branches will re-open on Monday and will be trading normally. “Customers are therefore welcome to visit these post offices for collecting parcels, paying car licences or doing other postal transactions,” SAPO said in a statement. Vehicle owners who want to renew their car license have to bring an identity document and a completed renewal form, which can be downloaded from the Post Office website: https://www.postoffice.co.za/. The form is under the domestic products button. “Post Offices are important access points for government services such as social grants. To eliminate long waiting times, the Post Office has introduced separate queues for different transactions. This also serves to eliminate crowding and ensures that COVID-19 regulations are adhered to,” SAPO said. The Post Office offers the most cost-effective delivery service for small international parcels and therefore plans to play a growing role in delivering e-commerce parcels. “Its network of outlets is one of the reasons it is able to offer a unique service, and the organisation intends to maintain its extensive network,” SAPO said. The following branches will re-open: Gauteng: Aston Manor; Belle Ombre, Pretoria; Fontainebleu; Hillbrow; Kelvin; Khumalo; Leondale; Moroke; Northmead and Three Rivers. Eastern Cape: Greenfields; Motherwell; Northcrest and Schauderville. Western Cape: Edgemead; Kleinmond; Mbekweni and Melkbosstrand. KwaZulu-Natal: Esikhaleni; Gillits; Impendle; and Overport. Limpopo: Enkelbult; Letsitele and Tonga. Mpumalanga: West Acres, Mbombela. Northern Cape: Hopetown. The Post Office said negotiations will continue with landlords of the remaining few branches that are closed. “They will re-open as soon as agreement is reached with property owners. This is expected to be within the next few weeks,” SAPO said.

The SA Post Office (Sapo) is working hard to improve its service, while paying out social relief of distress grants to thousands of South Africans. 

In a statement on Monday, the Post Office said the facility that allows customers who collect their grant from Pick ‘n Pay and Boxer supermarkets is gaining popularity.

“In the last week of October 2021, a total of 334 000 people withdrew their grant from a Post Office branch.  Just over 59 000 (8.4%) withdrew their grants from a Pick ‘n Pay or Boxer supermarket.

“Where possible, the SA Post Office has introduced separate queues for grant beneficiaries to ensure that customers who visit their post office for a regular transaction are served as quickly as possible,” Sapo said.

Transaction speed at post office counters has been improved by a national network upgrade project.

A total of 1 270 out of 1 329 sites (97%) are now fully commissioned with new equipment and upgraded connectivity.

The remaining 59 sites either require alternative solutions or they are so remote that no viable infrastructure is available. 

The South African Post Office has signed an agreement with the Mail Americas to give online traders much better access into all of Southern Africa, including rural areas.
The South African Post Office

“The Post Office has countered the reduction of revenue brought about by the COVID-19 restrictions with a cost-saving drive. At the end of August 2021, expenses for the financial year stood at 88% of the budgeted amount.

“Further steps to reduce the company’s fixed costs in the long run are being implemented, such as voluntary severance packages,” Sapo said.

Set-top boxes

The Post Office has reiterated its call to qualifying households to apply for a free subsidised television decoder. 

In October 2021, almost 60 000 households applied for a subsidised decoder. 

“The Northern Cape was the first to switch to digital signals only; the analogue signals interfered with the satellite signals of the Square Kilometre Array in the area.

“A South African identity document, proof of address and proof of income are required to apply.  If you do not have proof of address or income – for example, if you are unemployed – your local post office will help you to complete an affidavit to confirm these,” Sapo. – SAnews

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