Takealot Eyes 18,000 New Hires Could This Be the Silver Lining for Retrenched Post Office Workers?

As the Post Office crumbles, thousands of workers are being retrenched. Now, all eyes are on Takealot to deliver hope.

For thousands of South Africans who once sorted mail and staffed counters at their local post office, the future has felt uncertain, if not bleak. But an unexpected ray of hope may be emerging from one of the country’s e-commerce giants.

The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies recently announced an ambitious plan: Takealot could soon take on a significant portion of the nearly 5,000 retrenched South African Post Office (Sapo) employees as part of its expansion. The department says the agreement is aimed at job creation in the digital economy—and potentially, 18,000 people could be hired in total.

But before the celebratory tweets could fly, Takealot threw cold water on the announcement, saying: Not so fast.

Talks Are Happening, but No Deal Yet

While Director-General Nonkqubela Jordan-Dyani told Parliament that an agreement was “in place” with Takealot, the company itself says nothing has been signed. “Discussions are ongoing,” a spokesperson confirmed to MyBroadband. “But no formal agreement or specific commitments have been made.”

Still, there’s clearly movement behind the scenes. Takealot confirmed it is exploring initiatives to uplift communities, with a strong focus on entrepreneurship and upskilling, particularly through its Township Economy Initiative. It’s a plan that aligns well with the department’s push to create 20,000 jobs in South Africa’s growing digital economy during the 2025/26 financial year.

For many, this still sounds promising even if not yet concrete.

The Human Toll of Sapo’s Collapse

To understand what’s at stake, you need only glance at what’s happened to the Post Office. Once a cornerstone of public service, Sapo entered business rescue in July 2023, drowning in R12.5 billion of debt. Years of mismanagement and declining relevance in a digital world led to its downfall.

By November 2023, the Post Office had around 11,000 employees. The business rescue plan—seen as the only way to save the institution—required retrenching nearly half of them. In May 2024, nearly 4,889 workers were let go.

Some received the first portion of their severance in June. Others wait for the second and third tranches, scheduled for September and November 2024.

In May 2025, the state secured a R381 million TERS wage subsidy from the CCMA to support the remaining staff. The idea? Buy six more months of income for nearly 6,000 workers, keeping the lights on a little longer.

But many retrenched workers aren’t banking on a comeback. They need new jobs—fast.

From Sorting Mail to Delivering Parcels?

The potential deal with Takealot could be a timely intervention. The company, already a major player in online retail, is growing. Its need for delivery drivers, warehouse packers, and digital support roles has never been greater.

This expansion could be a natural transition for some retrenched Sapo workers, particularly those with logistics or administrative experience.

And while not everyone may be absorbed by Takealot, the broader plan includes upskilling and entrepreneurship opportunities, a crucial component in a country where traditional jobs are shrinking, but the informal and digital economies are growing fast.

Public Reaction: Hope Meets Skepticism

On social media, the mood has been mixed. Some are hopeful, with comments like:
“Finally a plan that makes sense use skills from Sapo to boost e-commerce.”

Others are cautious:
“Talks are cheap. Let’s see those contracts and hiring calls before we get too excited.”

And some, understandably, are bitter:
“We lost our jobs while executives walked away unscathed. Now we must fight for scraps?”

A Chance to Do It Differently

If this partnership materialises, it could mark a turning point, not just for retrenched workers, but for how South Africa handles transitions in its public sector. By matching retrenched employees with rising sectors like e-commerce, there’s an opportunity to turn a crisis into something more constructive.

The challenge will be ensuring it’s done fairly, transparently, and with the workers at the centre, not just as numbers, but as people trying to find new purpose in a fast-changing economy.

For now, all eyes are on Takealot and the Department of Communications. One side has hope. The other, hesitation. And between them stand thousands of South Africans waiting to see if the country’s next big job creator is ready to deliver.

{Source: My Broad Band}

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