ICASA focuses on universal postal services

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) will conduct public education campaigns throughout October in celebration of World Post Day.

The regulator says that in an effort to ensure universal postal services for all South Africans,  the entire month will be used for awareness campaigns using different mediums including community radio interviews across the country.

World Post Day is celebrated on the 9 October and the theme for this year is “The post, an invaluable Public Service, World Wide.”

ICASA says it has developed customer care standards regulations and the code of conduct to ensure that post offices provide valuable services to consumers of SA.

These regulations stipulate processes and procedures for ensuring a universal postal service that is easily accessible, efficient and affordable. Subsequent to the implementation of these regulations, ICASA is required to monitor and enforce compliance.

The regulator emphasizes that postal services are essential to communities who still prefer to use letters as a means of communication.

“Importantly, postal services also contribute to the economic growth of South Africa. World Post Day commemorates the founding of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874 in Berne, Switzerland. It was declared World Post Day by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan in 1969. Since then, countries across the world participate annually in the celebrations,” said ICASA.