Share

Post Office settlement costs hit R5m

Johannesburg - Millions of rands have been paid to top officials at the South African Post Office (Sapo) for settlements over the last five years, The Star reported on Monday.

Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services Siyabonga Cwele has revealed the figures in a written reply to Parliament.

According to the reply, the department has paid out R5.02m in settlements to six Sapo executives since 2011.

These payments include:

- R404 615.93 to Sapo company secretary Bessie Bulunga who was paid out in March 2014 after her dismissal.

- R370 000 in an arbitration settlement to Maphutha Diaz in November 2013.

- R1.7m to Marietjie Lancaster who received a voluntary retrenchment package in March 2013.

- R1.47 million to group chief executive officer, Motshoanetsi Lefoka, in January 2012 in an arbitration settlement that followed his resignation.

- R532 000 to group manager RM Neshunzhi in an arbitration settlement in November 2011.

- R548 058.25 to chief operations officer John Wentzel in July 2011.

Sapo was put under administration in November last year after a protracted four-month illegal strike that dented postal services.

Financial problems have also beset the post office. In July, Minister Cwele revealed in a response to a parliamentary question that Sapo owes almost R245m to more than 2 000 suppliers, and is in arrears of over six months.

On Friday, though, the department announced that Minister Cwele has extended Sapo administrator Dr Simo Lushaba’s term to September 30.

READ: Cwele extends Post Office administrator's term

The department also said that “since November 2014, the labour relations environment at the post office has improved, allowing for a period of uninterrupted service delivery”.

Meanwhile, other state-owned entities under the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services have also made high level settlements, according to the Minister’s reply.

The State Information Technology Agency (Sita), for example, has paid R4.73m in settlements.

Sita CEO Blake Mosley-Lefatola received R1.44m while chief operating officer Khumbudzo Ntshavheni was given R1.9m.

Sentech, Broadband Infraco, the National Electronic Media Institute of SA and the Universal Service and Access Agency of SA (Usaasa) have also made settlements, according to the minister’s reply.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
19.09
-1.0%
Rand - Pound
24.06
-0.7%
Rand - Euro
20.58
-0.5%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.39
-0.3%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.9%
Platinum
894.64
-0.3%
Palladium
992.99
-0.9%
Gold
2,196.85
+0.1%
Silver
24.44
-0.8%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
67,964
+0.4%
All Share
74,173
+0.4%
Resource 10
56,465
+1.4%
Industrial 25
103,617
+0.3%
Financial 15
16,480
-0.3%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders