The South African Post Office is likely to attempt to persuade government departments to start accepting electronic documents and the public to use such electronic filing facilities.
This is thanks to one of the last-minute changes the Portfolio Committee on Communications made this week to the Electronic Communications and Transactions (ECT) Bill, before the Bill moved on in the parliamentary process.
The Post Office is to become the preferred authentication service provider in terms of the Electronic Communications and Transaction Bill, adopted by Parliament’s communications committee yesterday.
The bill is intended to promote the use of e-commerce by establishing a legislative framework for electronic transactions, as well as for the authentication of electronic signatures.
The committee felt the Post Office had the infrastructure and geographic spread to act as a preferred authentication service provider. It would act in this capacity particularly for government, but also for the public.
The SA Post Office has warned that the lower-than-expected 9% postal tariff increase for this year will adversely affect development programmes, and will mean that mail volumes are unlikely to see a return to growth. The organisation had requested a 12%-15% hike in tariffs in the hope that the ailing entity could improve its revenues and grow the business. The approved 9% tariff increase means the cost of a standard letter will go up to R1,52 from R1,40.
Read MoreTNT Airways is expecting to launch its first scheduled longhaul freighter services next month – part of a plan to develop a global 11747 freighter net work.
The green light from the South African authorities will see a three or four-times weekly B747 flying between TNT’s Liege hub and Johannesburg.
“We think approval is imminent, and we maybe able to launch next month,” said MD Niky Terzakis.
TNT has been flying once or twice a week to Johannesburg on a charter basis, through Atlas Air, since October, but has applied for the aircraft to be registered in Belgium and has been training its own crew on B747s
THE SA Post Office is expected to post significantly improved financial results in the coming weeks, with the estimated R850m loss of 2000-01 likely to be more than halved.
The Post Office’s new management team has focused closely this year on curbing postal crime, improving its delivery performance and reaching breakeven point as soon as possible.
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