The postal service still has a role in the technology-driven society, speakers at the World Post Day in Mafikeng said yesterday. In addition to the traditional celebration to mark the foundation of the Universal Postal Union in 1874, the role of the Post Office in the global communications network was discussed.
Delivering a keynote address on behalf of deputy communications minister Roy Padayachie, North West province premier Edna Molewa discussed the "stresses and strains" the postal service is subjected to due to the ICT revolution.
While the new technology-driven society has changed the business environment in which the Post Office operates, the Post Office is still the most accessible means of communication for many rural and township communities, she said.
The new Post Offices and utilising the postal infrastructure to provide multi-purpose centres enables South Africans to access a wider range of services and information through ICT, the tool of the new global economy.
Through the Post Offices, citizens have access to Web sites, e-mail, the Internet, business and educational services. They can also access government information and do financial transactions, she said.
In addition to keynote addresses, delegates broke into discussion groups to share their experiences and challenges. One of the issues to be further discussed was the impact of technology on the postal services.
The Department of Communications also noted that the event took place at a time when the country is preparing for the World Summit on Information Society, to be held in Tunis from 16 to 18 November.
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