Mark Barnes’ column was a heartfelt plea for state intervention to ensure that the South African Post Office’s (Sapo’s) technology works (China’s powerful mix of technology and state intervention works, August 1). Time and again when I visit the Clareinch post office embarrassed clerks tell me to use another counter, or that they can only accept cash payments "because my machine is offline". Worse still, the book shop at the University of the Western Cape was thrilled to get a postal agency, through which customers could pay their municipal accounts and also choose to pay by bank card. After working for one day, the system broke down and it took Sapo three months to return and reinstall the software. Again the system only worked for a few hours before breaking down. The bookshop has complained for about nine months without Sapo’s technicians doing anything to resolve the problem. Can Barnes please ensure that all post office digital breakdowns are repaired within, say, three working...
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