South Africa Post Office takes the electronic route

The Department of Communications says members of the public will in future be able to send documents electronically, via e-mail and SMS (short message system) from their local post offices.

According to the department’s deputy director-general Phumelele Nzimande, e-post will be made available at all post offices in the country as well as at multipurpose community centres (MPCCs) during the next financial year.

MPCCs are one-stop information centres being rolled out countrywide by government.

‘It will enable members of the public to send documents such as CVs, including certified copies, Christmas cards and other essential documents via e-mail and without the post office officially certifying the documents. The system will be able to detect the authenticity of the documents or signatures,’ said Ms Nzimande.

Currently e-post can be accessed at eight post offices in the country.

Ms Nzimande told BuaNews that the system, introduced under the Electronic Communication Act of 2002, provides for members of the public to have Internet access at their local post offices.

‘We are currently working on a business plan and also identifying all the areas targeted for the new system,’ she said.