pratlou
Senior Member
Communications minister Mondli Gungubele has asked interested parties to comment on whether he should extend a law more than two-decades old that gives the SA Post Office (Sapo) a monopoly on delivering mail under 1kg to homes and post boxes.
The exclusivity law is the subject of a court case between the Sapo, the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa), PostNet, and the SA Express Parcel Association (Saepa).
The Post Office complained in 2018 to Icasa that PostNet was delivering letters and parcels under 1kg, and Icasa found PostNet to be in breach of the law. PostNet took the finding to court and won an interim order allowing it to continue its deliveries, until the main challenge, which other parties have joined in is heard.
Gungubele gazetted a note on February 5 asking for public comment within 30 days on the various exclusivity provisions in the act from 1998.
The reserved services, according to the notice issued on Monday, include the delivery of all letters, postcards, printed matter, small parcels and other postal articles weighing up to 1kg.
But the e-commerce industry, which has grown since the pandemic, needs to be protected, said Tempest. Gungubele “needs to achieve a balance”.
“We think we need to as an [e-commerce industry] be very sensitive to the political issues and economic issues. [However] our first priority is the need for us to get deliveries out safely and effectively throughout the whole of Africa.”
www.businesslive.co.za
The exclusivity law is the subject of a court case between the Sapo, the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa), PostNet, and the SA Express Parcel Association (Saepa).
The Post Office complained in 2018 to Icasa that PostNet was delivering letters and parcels under 1kg, and Icasa found PostNet to be in breach of the law. PostNet took the finding to court and won an interim order allowing it to continue its deliveries, until the main challenge, which other parties have joined in is heard.
Gungubele gazetted a note on February 5 asking for public comment within 30 days on the various exclusivity provisions in the act from 1998.
The reserved services, according to the notice issued on Monday, include the delivery of all letters, postcards, printed matter, small parcels and other postal articles weighing up to 1kg.
But the e-commerce industry, which has grown since the pandemic, needs to be protected, said Tempest. Gungubele “needs to achieve a balance”.
“We think we need to as an [e-commerce industry] be very sensitive to the political issues and economic issues. [However] our first priority is the need for us to get deliveries out safely and effectively throughout the whole of Africa.”
Minister calls for comment on Post Office exclusivity
Gungubele considering extension of Sapo monopoly on delivering mail under 1kg to homes and post boxes
www.businesslive.co.za
