The minister said that the cost for support staff in the business rescue process was the largest amount \u2014 R237.54 million in the last three years, excluding VAT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe implementation of the business rescue plan would have been practically impossible for the two BRPs to execute alone,\u201d Malatsi explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis necessitated the acquisition of the required resources by the BRPs to ensure both the effective implementation of the business rescue plan and the continuation of operations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In July 2023, Anoosh Rooplal and Juanito Damons were appointed to be the practitioners to lead the embattled state agency out of financial distress and collapse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both are senior corporate restructuring professionals with decades of experience managing the restructuring or liquidation of large state-owned enterprises and corporations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rooplal is a chartered accountant and the national head of Corporate Finance and Restructuring at SNG Grant Thornton, one of South Africa\u2019s largest professional services networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prior to SAPO, Rooplal was involved in the curatorship of VBS Mutual Bank following its highly publicised fraud scandal. Rooplal was appointed to be the bank\u2019s liquidator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, Damons is an experienced practising attorney and the Director of Damons Attorneys in Pretoria. He is specialised in business rescue proceedings and liquidations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aside from the two practitioners leading the business rescue plan, Malatsi revealed that the business rescue process led to the hiring of staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese included, but were not limited to, tax, labour, legal, financial, operational, restructuring and actuarial experts,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese resources were organised into various workstreams to support and enable key operational functions of the business.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
R237.54 million to hire business rescue support staff<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Solly-Malatsi-speaking-at-table-1200x675.jpg\")
Solly Malatsi, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nMalatsi said that the support staff supplemented existing skills shortages and strengthened critical areas of the operations. Additional consultants would be brought on as and when required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These included experts such as labour law firms, as well as civil and criminal attorneys appointed to assist with the management and facilitation of CCMA referrals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since the proceedings began, SAPO has faced ongoing legal issues at the Labour Court, which necessitated experts in dealing with the matters, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other skills brought on by the post office during the process included human resources, legal, finance, stakeholder management, operations, and sales management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Risk management experts, retrenchment processes, business rescue oversight and creditors\u2019 compromises were also onboarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Across the three financial years since business rescue began, it has cost the South African taxpayer R321.18 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The total for disbursements for the three years was R28.01 million. Of the three years, the 2024\/25 financial year was the most costly, at R142.48 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This large increase in costs compared to the 2023\/24 financial year was primarily driven by support staff costs, which rose by R42.88 million to R107 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The annual business rescue costs were lowest during the Post Office\u2019s previous financial year. Malatsi revealed that it had spent R82.55 in the 2025\/26 financial year on business rescue\u2013related costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In March, the practitioners told Parliament that the SAPO would require an allocation of R350 million to maintain its current operations and avoid liquidation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The entity was to receive R595 million from the government to fulfil its universal service obligation and maintain services in rural and underserved areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Malatsi said that the support staff supplemented existing skills shortages and strengthened critical areas of the operations. Additional consultants would be brought on as and when required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These included experts such as labour law firms, as well as civil and criminal attorneys appointed to assist with the management and facilitation of CCMA referrals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since the proceedings began, SAPO has faced ongoing legal issues at the Labour Court, which necessitated experts in dealing with the matters, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other skills brought on by the post office during the process included human resources, legal, finance, stakeholder management, operations, and sales management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Risk management experts, retrenchment processes, business rescue oversight and creditors\u2019 compromises were also onboarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Across the three financial years since business rescue began, it has cost the South African taxpayer R321.18 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The total for disbursements for the three years was R28.01 million. Of the three years, the 2024\/25 financial year was the most costly, at R142.48 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This large increase in costs compared to the 2023\/24 financial year was primarily driven by support staff costs, which rose by R42.88 million to R107 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The annual business rescue costs were lowest during the Post Office\u2019s previous financial year. Malatsi revealed that it had spent R82.55 in the 2025\/26 financial year on business rescue\u2013related costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In March, the practitioners told Parliament that the SAPO would require an allocation of R350 million to maintain its current operations and avoid liquidation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The entity was to receive R595 million from the government to fulfil its universal service obligation and maintain services in rural and underserved areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n