Struggling Post Office finalises salary payments

The South African Post Office (Sapo) plans to pay its employees the remaining 30% of their salaries on Wednesday October 28.

Sapo revealed last week that its negative financial position meant that it could only pay salaries in two batches: 50% by October 25 2015 and the balance on 31 October 2015.

Then on Monday, Sapo said it paid its workers 70% of their salaries last week and planned to pay the outstanding 30% on October 31.

Now, Sapo has made another change to its salary payments for the month of October.

“As a consequence of around-the-clock work to mitigate effect of the split salary approach, based on the well-documented financial position, the SA Post Office has announced that it will be paying the 30% outstanding balance of its employees’ salaries tomorrow (October 28),” said Sapo spokesperson Khulani Qoma in a statement.
 
“While the current financial position imposes these unintended consequences, the SA Post Office is optimistic that it is only a matter of time before they start seeing improvements on their revenues,” said Qoma.

Government has attempted to turnaround Sapo after it was put into administration last year.

Sapo was plunged into turmoil in 2014 amid a months-long postal strike. It’s board also resigned in November last year as reports emerged of Sapo struggling to pay suppliers.

But Sapo’s Qoma said on Tuesday that its turnaround initiatives are gaining traction and the festive season is expected to boost mail and parcel activity.

“This will add immense impetus to our revenues,” said Qoma.

“There are also other new protects, which are at inception such as the DTT (digital terrestrial television) and other government initiatives,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sapo workers in Johannesburg, who are part of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), are planning a strike on Thursday October 29 to protest alleged maladministration at the Post Office.

The CWU also wants the Public Protector to release a report on corruption at Sapo.

Source: Fin24