Post Office wants to stop couriers from delivering items that weigh less than 1kg
You might never be able to have your clothes, gadgets or electronics that weigh less than 1kg delivered to your door again.
South Africans rely on courier companies to deliver many products to their homes. These includes gadgets, bank cards, medicine, vehicle licenses, clothes, electronics, and other stuff they purchase online.
These items are often delivered by different courier companies which businesses hire to ensure their customers get their goods delivered safe and on time.
Although there are many courier companies delivering small and large items across the country, it is only the South African Post Office that has exclusive rights to deliver items which fall under the sub-1kg category (items that weigh 1kg or less).
Due to many other companies contravening the Postal Services Act which allows only the Post Office to deliver items weighing 1kg or less, the Post Office is approaching the courts.
READ: Post Office: Post your Christmas gifts now
It wants the court to stop any other courier company from delivering parcels that weigh less than 1kg.
In 2019, Icasa found that Postnet had contravened the Postal Services Act and was transporting items less than 1kg.
Means to stop the company from delivering such items failed, as Postnet obtained an interdict which allowed it to continue to deliver small packages until the full challenge was heard in the Gauteng High Court.
The Post Office, Postnet, and the South African Express Parcel Association (SAEPA), who represents courier companies like FedEx, DHL, UPS, CourierIT, RAM, and Globeflight, are now heading to the court to have the matter heard.
The ruling will have ramifications for the entire mail industry in South Africa.
READ: Post Office now accepts debit or credit cards to renew your car license
Currently, the Post Office has had many challenges including long queues at their offices, on-going protests, delays in delivery, and lost items. In addition to that, unlike other courier companies, the Post Office doesn’t deliver door-to-door.
This means customers will have to visit branches to collect their goods.
Social media reaction
Over the years, South Africans have taken to social media to complain about the service of the South African Post Office.
Below are some of their comments:
South African Post Office, nonsonso. 17 track reports parkage has landed on 28 February 2021. To date is still with SAPO.
— Denny (@olwethu70) April 29, 2021
Allow me to introduce you to the South African Post Office then 😂😂😂 one time I ordered something and I had to track it down MYSELF because they didn’t know which service was handling it. Took me over a month
— ✨Bliss & Blessing✨ (@MermaidBeloved) April 27, 2021
Through South African post office, you get your Christmas card on Easter ~ JJ Tabane
— Napoleon (@MuViiiiii) May 2, 2021
lol south african post office. i am still waiting for documents i send home back in 2015
— Mr farmer (@MrfarmerRsa) April 23, 2021
Image courtesy of iStock/ @Ljupco