Post Office crisis: Workers say liquidation would devastate communities

2026-03-16 - 07:53

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) says a proposal to liquidate the South African Post Office (Sapo) threatens the livelihoods of thousands of workers and risks dismantling a critical public institution that continues to serve millions of South Africans, particularly in rural and working-class communities. This comes after Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi received a letter from the Sapo business rescue practitioners (BRPs) expressing their intention to file for liquidation. Sapo liquidation Malatsi said the BRPs sent him the letter on Friday afternoon. “It is my view that any talk of liquidation at this stage is premature, given the extensive ongoing conversations within government, particularly between the Department and National Treasury, regarding the prevailing situation at the SA Post Office,” Malatsi said. CWU national organiser Moffat Seutlwadi said organised labour has not been formally consulted or engaged on any proposal to liquidate the Sapo. Crisis Seutlwadi said CWU believes the current crisis at the Sapo reflects “serious failures” by BRP, government departments and the broader leadership responsible for the institution. “Any attempt to take such a drastic decision without engaging workers and their representatives is unacceptable and undermines the principles of fair labour practice and social dialogue. “Liquidation would not only destroy thousands of jobs but would also have devastating socio-economic consequences for communities that rely on Sapo for essential services, including postal services, financial transactions, and access to social support systems,” Seutlwadi said. ALSO READ: OPINION | It’s time to bury