Post Office resumes full services permitted under level 4 lockdown
All branches are expected to be fully operational by June 1.
The SA Post Office (SAPO) notifies its customers and the general public that while it has been offering some services during the lockdown, it will be implementing full services from Monday, May 25 for services permitted under the risk adjusted regulations in line with Covid-19 level 4 lockdown.
Mail is starting to flow again as sorting facilities, transport and branches of the SAPO have been granted permission to operate. The majority of post office branches are open for business and a phased approach is adopted for the re-opening of the remaining branches immediately as soon as measures to ensure their compliance with the regulations have been implemented. Sorting facilities nationally as well as transport connections are operational again.
The total branch network available as of May 25 will be 1 017 branches nationwide, with operations in the remainder of our branch network brought online in a phased approach as and when we complete implementing measures to ensure that we comply with regulations promulgated to combat the spread of the virus. We envisage that all our branches will be fully operational by June 1, – Ivumile Nongogo, SAPO Acting CEO
SAPO has deployed a systemised restricted hours’ shift system in the sorting centres in order to comply with the regulations restricting the number of employees allowed on the premises at any one time to observe social distancing requirements.
Therefore, while the shifts have been introduced to maximise production as well as adherence to the regulations, operations are not currently running at optimal level and this will impact delivery turnaround times of parcels, including items that accumulated prior to the lockdown.
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“Indications are that we should deliver the accumulated items that were held up during lockdown within the next three weeks. We appeal to our customers for their patience as we are navigating these uncharted times,” said Nongogo.
Customers are able to check the status of their items using the Post Office’s tracking service HERE Customer contact points that were previously suspended, including the Customer Service Desk 0860 111 502 will also resume.
Services available in Post Office branches nationwide include account payment, collection and delivery of parcels, posting of parcels, and certifying documents. As cargo flights to and from other countries are still very scarce, at the moment SAPO is able to move mail and parcels to and from Hong Kong, Japan, Portugal, Thailand and China.
SAPO courier services as well as the delivery of legal documents via DOCEX are also available. Financial services, including money transfer and Postbank transactions such as deposits, withdrawals, card replacements and general enquiries can be performed. The renewal of motor vehicle licences is earmarked to resume on June 1.
Services related to the SASSA social grants payments, statements and balance enquiries, including PIN and card replacement continue to be available. To reduce cost for SASSA beneficiaries and to eliminate unnecessary social contact, SAPO has also introduced a USSD service to allow SASSA beneficiaries to check their account balance remotely from their cellphones.
To perform this transaction at a cost of 60 cents, which is below the normal bank interchange balance enquiry at an ATM, a SASSA social grant beneficiary must follow the easy steps on their cellphone: Dial *120*3210# and press enter. Then, put in your ID number and press enter again to see the account balance.
SAPO says that it is also piloting a project to roll-out cashless ATMs as additional transacting points of access for communities that would normally need to travel to access financial services. The beneficiaries will be able to access the ATMs from selected small traders located in their communities.
Local traders, including spaza shops, which are interested in offering this service should send an email to cashless@postoffice.co.za.
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