LETTER: Failing Post Office must let private players take over
Entity is bleeding money as the new CEO's promises have come to naught
The Post Office is on a race to the bottom. Since the disastrous four-month strike that ended in November 2014, the entity has repeatedly promised strategic turnaround plans to recover lost customers and return to profitability. Under CEO Mark Barnes, aggressive cost-cutting and cost controls were hailed as the means to arrest declining revenue and restore lost profits, with fresh revenue streams expected from a full banking licence, new e-commerce opportunities and social grant distribution. These promises remain as empty as our post boxes, as the backlog was supposed to have been cleared in September, then October, and now November. Losing about R80m every month, the Post Office is only in business thanks to annual billion-rand, taxpayer-funded bail-outs. With mail volume declining the world over, it would be well advised to take good care of its remaining customers. Its oxymoronic customer-care e-mail service and telephone helplines remain unanswered and do nothing to restore the...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.