Post Office Crisis Deepens As Bailout Remains Elusive And Parliament Grows Impatient

They had been expected to address the national council of provinces' select committee on economic development trade, but failed to attend.

According to Rooplal, who spoke on behalf of the pair in response to questions from TechCentral, the meeting had been moved to Tuesday from another, previously agreed date, but the two already had other commitments on the new date, prompting them to send representatives to parliament on their behalf instead.

"The non-attendance by the joint business rescue practitioners was not intentional. Unfortunately, the meeting date was changed and we had other commitments. We will wait for the meeting to be rescheduled so we can attend," said Rooplal.

Committee chair Sonja Boshoff explained in the meeting that the reason it had been moved from the previous week was so that either communications minister Solly Malatsi or his deputy, Mondli Gungubele, could be present. Boshoff said Rooplal and Damons only informed Malatsi via a letter the day before the meeting that they would not be in attendance and would send representatives in their place.

Then, in February, national treasury approved a R150-million virement intended to "assist the Post Office in addressing immediate financial pressures. Khusela Diko, chair of parliament's portfolio committee on communications digital technologies, criticised the virement as too little to ensure the company's long-term sustainability.