Issued by: Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications
STATEMENT BY JAY NAIDOO, MINISTER FOR POSTS, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND BROADCASTING ISSUED ON THE OCCASSION OF THE LAUNCH OF THE FIRST STREET DELIVERY OF POST IN KHAYELITSHA, CROSSROADS, NYANGA, LANGA, PHILLIPI, GUGULETU
Cape Town, Monday, May 25, 1998
From today, the people of Khayelitsha, Guguletu, Phillipi, Crossroads, Nyanga and Langa willbe getting their post delivered to them at their homes or places of work. These will be the first areas in the whole country to get new street delivery of post since 1992.
Basic postal services are the right of all citizens and the redress of these imbalances is essential to the social and economic development of South Africa.
Access to a reliable and affordable postal service is not longer a privilege to be enjoyed by a few. It is now the rightful expectation to all citizens, especially those in previously disadvantaged areas, and it contributes to the dignity and respect of South African citizens.
The White Paper on Postal Policy, which I launched in Cape Town two weeks ago, sets out policy guidelines which commit the Post Office to delivering a universal postal service, providing equitable access and becoming financially sustainable.
This government is committed to facilitating the growth and development of this sector and to ensuring the provision of universal and affordable postal service for all South Africans irrespective of race, class, gender, age or geographic location.
The Post Office will provide four million new addresses over the next few years.
Today marks the beginning of street delivery of post to 46 000 addresses in the communities of Khayelitsha, Guguletu, Phillipi, Crossroads, Nyanga and Langa.
The street delivery of post to these areas will form the core of a pilot project which will help the Post Office develop norms to determine which areas should be receiving post, and the frequency which they will be serviced.
In the Western Cape, it is estimated that around 200 000 new addresses could be introduced to street delivery of post within the next two years.
In other parts of the our country, street delivery is to be initiated and expanded into areas where it is currently not rendered, provided that
There is a suitable population density;
Areas are accessible and street names and numbers in place; and
Street delivery boxes to receive mail are in place.
Address boxes and lobbies are to be introduced in areas where street delivery is not considered economically viable and other street delivery critieria are not met.
In the past two years, some 153 000 address boxes have been installed in the Western Cape, of which 114 000 have already been allocated. Of these 42 000 are in under-serviced areas.
The location of post offices is also being looked at by the Post Office in terms of its commitment to universal access.
For example, in 1995 in Pretoria, there were 71 post offices in traditionally white suburbs and only two in traditionally black areas. This is a common picture throughout the country. This has to change.
In the Western Cape, there has been progress in redressing imbalances like this.
I am also pleased to announce that in addition to Khayelitsha getting its first street delivery of post, it will also be getting three new post offices. These will be opening in Augst, making the total number of post offices servicing the area. Guguletu, Phillipi, Crossroads, Nyanga and Langa each have one post office and 20 at present, this is enough to meet the demand for postal services in those areas.