Share

AfriForum: Post Office owes consumers R180m

Johannesburg - Civil rights organisation AfriForum is demanding that the South African Post Office (Sapo) pay back mailbox users for a lack of service during a three month strike last year.

AfriForum released a statement on Saturday alleging that Sapo owes consumers R180m.

Postal services in SA came to a halt last year as around 7 900 Sapo casual workers across the country demanded an 8% wage hike and permanent employment.

The strike ended in November last year when two unions agreed to a settlement with Sapo.

AfriForum, though, says mailbox users paid for 12 months’ service in 2014 but only received delivery for nine months.

“AfriForum placed the Post Office on terms to reimburse all mailbox users for the period in which services were not delivered,” said Tiaan Esterhuizen, Manager of Community Structures for AfriForum, in a statement.

“If mailbox users are not reimbursed, AfriForum will consider legal action. This is yet another example of the government failing to adhere to their responsibilities and the economy is suffering because of it,” Esterhuizen said.

AfriForum also said the Consumers Protection Act states consumers are entitled to the “timely execution and completion of services” and “reasonable reimbursement if any services are not executed as agreed”.
 
Other complaints against Sapo

In December 2014 Fin24 reported that eight magazine publishers lodged a formal complaint against the South African Post Office (Sapo) with the Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (Icasa).

The publishers alleged Sapo failed to meet its licence conditions to reliably distribute post for “years”.

Icasa by law has to monitor Sapo’s licence obligations.

“This formal complaint lodged by the publishers with Icasa is a precursor to a possible class action," the publishers said in a statement in December 2014.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
19.06
-0.8%
Rand - Pound
24.04
-0.6%
Rand - Euro
20.55
-0.4%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.37
-0.2%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.8%
Platinum
901.20
+0.5%
Palladium
997.97
-0.4%
Gold
2,200.01
+0.2%
Silver
24.52
-0.5%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,001
+0.5%
All Share
74,204
+0.4%
Resource 10
56,476
+1.5%
Industrial 25
103,644
+0.4%
Financial 15
16,491
-0.2%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders