The SA Post Office (Sapo) released a special stamp to mark 25 years of democracy last week.
A statement released by Sapo’s communications department, says the stamp was designed by the Post Office’s graphic designer, Rachel Ackermann and the artwork on the stamp uses a combination of water colours and digital artwork, and features a man holding the South African flag, looking out over the ocean to a symbolic future for all.
The stamp costs R31,80 – the rate for a registered letter, and is available at all major post offices or from SA.Stamps@postoffice.co.za.
“The stamp effectively puts a seal on the key democratic rights that the Post Office has delivered to South Africans over the past 25 years,” said Sapo’s CEO, Mark Barnes.
Relevant to the upcoming elections is the verification of registered voters’ addresses the Post Office did with the Independent Electoral Commission. Without this work, millions of South Africans, particularly those in informal or rural settlements, would have been unable to exercise their right to vote.
Since 1994, the Post Office has given formal addresses to seven million households in deep rural and informal settlements. Before that they had no formal addresses at all.
This enables them to open a bank account and have a working cellphone. Financial Intelligence Centre Act 38 of 2001 (FICA) requirements mean it is not possible to open a bank account without an address. The same requirement applies to SIM card requirements in terms of the Regulation of Interception of Communications Act 70 of 2002 (RICA).
Because the address includes GPS markers, citizens who use these new addresses can be found by an emergency service – no matter how informal their settlement.
Through the new Sassa card issued by Postbank, the Post Office delivers the right to dignity and social security to more than 11 million South Africans. In April 2019, the Sapo system disbursed close to R10 billion in Sassa grants.
The Post Office ensures the right of access to information for all through the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) project, where the Post Office registers needy households for a digital decoder. This allows them to continue watching television after the switch to digital broadcasts.
In the immediate future, the Post Office intends to launch an online platform that will help Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises to become active in e-commerce.
Postbank intends to play a central role in funding business expansion, particularly for small businesses and traders, in its determination to help bridge the economic divide in South Africa.
