Optimism prevails after express indaba

Alan Peat
EVERYBODY WHO has anything to do with the postal services turned up for last week’s indaba between the express industry and the SA Post Office (PO) on the contentious conditions of the latest, amended Postal Services Act.
The problem in the changed act that has been headlined is the regulation cutting the express industry off from carrying parcels of under one kilogram for domestic delivery - and reserving this function for the PO.
“The workshop took place as planned,” said Garry Marshall, CE of the SA Express Parcel Association (SAEPA). And, although Marshall reported that nothing concrete happened at the get-together, the PO recorded all the comments made.
“However, we’ve already got a basic agreement that the legislation will be changed to reflect the intent that they (the PO and its associated postal authorities in the Department of Communication) have communicated to us,” he told FTW.
The next step, he added, is for SAEPA to continue making its submissions to the authorities - specifically on the exact wording of the proposed amendments to the act.
“We’ve got a very good working relationship with them,” said Marshall, “and they accept a lot of our suggestions.
“I think we’ll eventually get our way.”