Wilbert Zwane . . . one of the victims of the New Postal Services Act. Leonard Neill WILBERT ZWANE became a self-employed delivery operator six years ago when the company which had employed him for two decades offered him the chance to become an individual entrepreneur. Now he joins the thousands of small-size courier businesses nationwide facing major losses as a result of amendments to the Postal Services Act (See page 1). “About 80% of my deliveries involve packages that weigh less than 1kg,” he says. Zwane accepted an offer by his previous company to resign and take up a contract which guaranteed him their considerable parcel delivery requirements. “Back in 1997 that was a most promising offer,” he says. “I had always wanted to be my own boss, and the company saw this as a way of ensuring their deliveries were in safe hands, while at the same time helping private individuals who were from the previously disadvantaged sector to develop in business. “I have been able to build up a solid client base during the last six years. Now it appears I will have to forego a considerable amount of it.” Some medium-sized operations have been able to sidestep the Act’s amendments by consolidating packages and having these couriered to agencies with which they work in other centres. This has been particularly noticeable in courier services overborder and internationally. But, says Zwane, smaller operators like himself don’t handle that volume. “Yes, I can still collect the small parcels and deliver them to the post office for dispatching. But will the client be prepared to pay me for my services as well as paying the postal charges?”
