Chairperson, Members of Parliament and representatives of the South African Post Office, SAPO, in the gallery, I greet you in the name of the ANC - black, green and gold. Four months ago, during the budget debates, I raised the degree to which a universal service and access to information and communication technology, ICT, was obtainable in the country and the rate at which access mechanisms to ICT were reaching our people.
Today I stand here before you once again talking about the need for the universality of postal services, which the Minister touched on in his introduction of this Bill. As indicated in the 1998 White Paper on Postal Policy, this sector provides the basic backbone linking South African people, positioning itself as a critical component in business and daily living. A viable and efficient postal service is essential to both social and economic development. The increasing globalisation of commerce and industry depends on fast and reliable communication systems.
Parliament is committed to facilitating the healthy development of the postal sector and ensuring the provision of access to a universal postal service by all South Africans, irrespective of geographic location or race, in a transparent and fair environment, in particular the rural poor. At the same time Parliament recognises that the means used to achieve these objectives must leave the greatest possible flexibility to accommodate technological changes as well as demographic changes.
The SA Post Office, as the custodian of such a universal service, faces the following key challenges in achieving its restructuring goals: addressing inequalities in accessing postal services as created by past policies; ensuring an equitable distribution of postal services; addressing the cost and service inefficiencies characteristic of the present system; providing a responsive, flexible and reliable service to its customer base; recapturing the confidence and support of its clients; and providing customers with an efficient postal service that is cost-effective and affordable. For as long as the rural poor, whom I represent and who are in the majority, are still disadvantaged in regard to communication, there will always be the need for a universal service for persons in respect of what is deemed a basic service. Today we continue to debate clauses 5 and 7 of the amendments, together with the rest of the corporate amendment clauses, because of the critical importance that the management of the Post Office has with regard to the mandate and the execution thereof. This means that whoever gets appointed has a direct impact on the outcome we generate and, even more so, the degree of commitment to the desired outcome.
The postal sector in general, and the Post Office in particular, is today still experiencing vast changes due to the infusion of technology, pointing to a still critical need not only to restructure the operating model but to build human capacity. This applies not only in cities and towns but also in the deep rural areas of this beloved country, South Africa, which is able to adapt to a new posting era and to a changing developmental requirement.
Here I am referring to the following: diminishing public revenue to subsidise operational losses; declining mail volumes and, consequently, postal revenue; low productivity and other internal efficiencies; and changing customer needs. These factors are as evident today as they were in 1998, when the White Paper was produced.
Having been in operation for over 500 years, today the SA Post Office operates under a 25-year licence granted by the Independent Communication Authority of South Africa, Icasa, in terms of which it must provide a universal service to all the citizens of the country. Prior to those 500 years, villages had resident mail men who travelled between communities and nations to deliver messages. People in this Parliament older than me can attest to what I am referring to. Beads and other means were used by lovers in a bid to communicate with one another. Communication is not just a basic right but a must. The message here is that postal services are key in the quest to ease communication between people. They have been an integral part and remain an integral part of the human journey and the human life experience.
It is also important to know that in a developing country such as ours, where the majority of people are on or below the breadline, the necessity of such institutions is even more critical, requiring a slight redefinition in light of the invention of mobile phones or cellphones.
In revolutionising postal services for the 21 century rural resident, the space of development is often filled with contradictions. These contradictions are often caused by the inability of development practitioners to search for and acknowledge the changing requirements of this segment of society.
When one looks closely at the proposed amendments, one must acknowledge the degree to which they encourage the Post Office to new technological heights. The duties of the Post Office, as stated in clause 1, effectively require the following: technical infrastructure upgrades; advanced market segmentation techniques, for example feasibility and market research; advanced market mobilising methods; skills development; disability considerations in services; product and service redefinition; and eco- friendly and innovative property infrastructure expansion.
In reviving the rural economy effectively, when we talk about the proverbial communications hub we should be asking: Given the extensive footprint, good or bad, of the Post Office, how do we turn these sites into ICT hubs, adding all manner of amenities and social services, depending on the market profile of the area? It is time we looked at these assets as rallying features around which communities come together and with regard to which government can and should be disseminating information and services.
Furthermore, we look forward to seeing the SA Post Office's inputs as the country speaks broadband more and more. We wish to hear how they see this phenomenon being applied to this environment and, even more so, to the way in which they deliver services and reposition themselves in a new technological space in rural areas.
Referring to clause 7, we want to see how the Post Office plays its part in the deep rural areas of Ngwavuma in KwaZulu-Natal or Mantserre in the North West province. The portfolio committee went on an oversight visit to the rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal and the main purpose was to see, to touch and to feel. Indeed, we saw, we touched and we felt. What we want to talk about and hear about now is not only how much the Post Office has made in a particular year. We want to hear how it has divided and defined markets, how it developed products flowing from that and thus mainstreamed its services so as to become relevant to the 21 century rural dweller, rich or poor.
In conclusion, the President of this beautiful country, South Africa, has spoken and where I come from ... lefoko la kgosi le agelwa mosako. [... whatever the king says, goes.]
During his state of the nation address, he was very strong on the question of work opportunities and skilling programmes for women and youth, in particular in the rural areas. Indeed, due to the migration they are the majority in those areas. In light of the fast changes in demographics and the technical topography, it is imperative that we review the skills within the sector relative to a new and redefined developmental strategy. [Time expired.]