The department of communications digital technologies does not have the money needed to bail out the Post Office, putting the embattled state-owned company's survival in further doubt.
This follows national treasury's decision to exclude a proposed R3.8-billion bailout for the Post Office in the mid-term budget policy outlook last month. Finance minister Enoch Godongwana said the department of communications should find the money to bail out the company.
According to communications minister Solly Malatsi, who was speaking to TechCentral at the Africa Tech Festival taking place in Cape Town this week, the money the Post Office needs to stave off its collapse simply isn't available.
"The engagement we had with treasury was that we should look within our budget to see if there are monies that we can use towards rescuing the situation at the Post Office," Malatsi said. "But the truth of the matter is that within the department and the current budget, those resources are just not available."
"I think there are some very tough choices about the Post Office that confront us, simply because of the situation we find ourselves in," said Malatsi.
