South African Airways (SAA) has reportedly suspended services to the South African Postal Service (SAPO) until it pays its outstanding bills with the airline. SAA is responsible for the delivery of mail to and from SAPO to postal services around the world.
In a report on Fin24, SAA spokesperson Tlali Tlali is reported to have said: “We sadly have reached a point where we have run out of options, but to suspend the SA Post Office's account.”
The contact suspension
The contract between SAA and SAPO was suspended on Monday 30 March. According to reports, SAPO has had outstanding bills with SAA for some time, which has put SAA in a position where it has to suspend its contract with the postal service until payment has been made.
Tlali Tlali said: “This decision was reluctantly taken after it became clear that there was delay in effecting payments that have been outstanding for quite some time. Their account will resume once all the payments have been effected.”
SAPO is expected to pay its account with SAA by 1 April, after which SAA’s services for the postal service will resume.
However, according to SAPO, the suspension should have very little impact on the postal service.
Mlu Mathonsi, Sapo CEO, is reported to have said: “We foresee minimal impact, if any, owing to the fact that the account was due to be paid today.”
*SAA and SAPO were contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.