The Department of Posts and Telecommunications regulates two public
companies, the South African Post Office Ltd (SAPO), which deals
with postal services, and Telkom SA Ltd, which handles all aspects
of telecommunications. Both companies are state-owned, but each
has its own management structure and board of directors, and each
compiles its own budget. The possibility of privatising Telkom
is being investigated.
The department also controls the frequency spectrum for two-way
radio communication and broadcasting, and handles matters such
as the approval of instruments and other apparatus marketed to
connect to Telkom's national network. One of its important functions
is to screen applicants wishing to offer telecommunications services
to the public.
The Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) views telecommunications
as the backbone of the development of all other socio-economic
sectors. An effective infrastructure with universal access is
essential to the delivery of basic services, and in the reconstruction
and development of disadvantaged areas. However, the existing
infrastructure is fragmented, offering restricted services to
peri-urban and rural areas.
An RDP goal is that all schools and clinics must be provided with
telecommunications services within the next two years.
The development of telecommunications services must be supported
by a strong manufacturing sector, which must be encouraged to
work with network operators to develop systems suitable for possible
export to Africa and other developing areas.
South Africa leads the African continent in the field of telecommunications, with 39 percent of all lines installed in Africa. South Africa became a member of the Council of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in October 1994.
With R16 000 million worth of assets, Telkom SA Ltd. is the second-largest listed industrial company in South Africa. The Managing Director is the sole Executive Director on the board, which is accountable to the sole shareholder - the State. Telkom manages its own financial resources, is the 28th largest telecommunications operator in the world, accounting for 2,2 percent of South Africa's gross domestic product (GDP).
Telkom subscribers are able to contact 228 international destinations, 226 of them directly. An average of 3,45 million calls a month are relayed through 2449 satellite, 1392 submarine cable, one radio and 8111 landline circuits.
Telkom operates an effective telegraph service. Automatic services to 207 international destinations are available, and the international manual exchange in Johannesburg serves another two destinations. developed locally, PC-Telex facilitates connection between a personal computer and the international telex network. Telkom also offers an international teletex service, offering the 1244 users of this service office-to-office typewriter communications 40 times faster than a regular telex.
Another service is the national network of microwave channels that link the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and M-Net television studios and transmitters. This includes microwave links to transmit and receive television programmes to and from other countries. There are optical fibre networks in, and between all major centres.
Telkom has radio stations t Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth in order to communicate with ships at sea.
Among other services offered are amateur radio services, citizen band radio facilities, maxinet, toll-free lines and a homefree system.
Vodacom and Mobile Telephone Network (MTN) were connected in April 1994. Telkom owns 50 percent of the shares in Vodacom, while MTN's shares are divided between M-Net, Cable and Wireless ( a British company), and Transtel, a division of Transnet.
A variety of services, such as emergency rescue services, are offered. Both networks re involved in community projects which entail providing mobile telephones to disadvantaged areas, and installing payphones throughout the country.
The South African Post Office (SAPO) offers postal, savings and money transfer services. The SAPO is a member of the Universal Postal Union, and participates in international decisions on postal matters.
In 1994/95, R190 million was put aside for RDP projects. The SAPO currently delivers mail to 5 million addresses. More post-boxes will be installed in developing and underdeveloped areas to open up communication avenues previously closed to some communities.
Postbank savings accounts may be operated at post offices throughout the country. Also available are computerised Telebank facilities at post offices and automatic teller machines (ATMs) connected to the Multinet/Saswitch network. Money orders (valid for 12 months) and postal orders (valid for three months) are also issued and paid out t post offices.
The SAPO handles approximately seven million postal items each working day. In addition to the usual letter and parcel services, registered mail, certified mail, cash-on-delivery (COD), insured parcel, express delivery, Fastmail, Speed Services, Advertising Mail, Infomail and business reply services are available. Services to other countries include: ordinary and registered letter services, ordinary, insured and COD parcel services, express delivery, international priority and speed services. Only ordinary and registered letter services are available to all countries.
South Africa currently has 1580 post offices, 450 postal agencies and retail post offices (Postpoints). Postal agencies and retail post offices (Postpoints). Postal agencies will be upgraded to Retail Postal Agencies and new ones will be opened.
The introduction of Postpoints situated in host businesses is part of the SAPO's commitment to creating an infrastructure to suite the entire community, and place postal products and services within easy reach of clients. Postpoints offer all postal services, have extended business hours (the same as those of the host business) and have convenient post boxes. The aim is to place postal services where people normally do business.
Retail postal agencies are situated inside host businesses, and can also be established in rural and underdeveloped areas. They offer full basic services as well as optional services to cater for the needs of the clients.
Mail is conveyed across a network of postal routes and from cities, towns, villages and hamlets. Road transport is used for domestic surface mail. Sea mail is delivered to all parts of the world as and when ships become available. Surface mail is distributed to 85 countries and received from 67, while airmail is delivered to 56 countries and received from 76.
Mail is delivered by letter carriers on foot, bicycle or power cycle or, where the volume of mail justifies it, in a panel van. Mail is delivered to private post boxes, address boxes at mail collection points, transportable post box lobbies, and to street addresses.
Three services expedite mail delivery and the service rendered at counters.
Excellpos speeds up counter service, and will eventually connect
about 5500 service points at 1580 post offices countrywide. Track
and trace is a bar code and laser-scanner monitoring system for
parcels and registered items. The hub and spoke system has reduced
the number of post offices that sort small daily from 1600 to
26 (so-called hubs). The four mechanised offices, Johannesburg,
Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria, however, still the sort mail to
smaller hubs. An advantage of the system is that it is quicker
and less prone to missorts.
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