Reasons why South African post office taking private courier companies to court​

Explanation:

As the only operator of this kind in South Africa, the Post Office has the exclusive right to provide delivery services for all letters, postcards, printed matter, small parcels, and other postal articles up to and including 1kg.

PostNet was initially ordered to stop delivering all packages weighing 1kg and less by 17 March 2020. However, it secured an interdict which allowed it to continue to deliver these packages until the full challenge was heard in the Gauteng High Court.

The Post Office, Postnet and the South African Express Parcel Association (SAEPA) are now set to head to court in a move that could have ramifications for the entire courier industry in South Africa.

Icasa spokesperson Paseka Maleka told BusinessDay that the regulator would give its support to the Post Office as it was following the letter of the law, which allowed private couriers to only deliver food items in the 1kg or less category.

“Icasa’s mandate is to implement what the law requires, and we are doing exactly that,” he said.

“There are exemptions that deal with businesses that do not fall under postal services. Uber Eats, Mr Delivery, etc are such businesses. Obviously, one cannot expect Sapo to be delivering pizza to a consumer,” he said.