SA Post Office mail service extended

More transport connections have become available under Covid-19 Lockdown Level 1 and the SA Post Office has been able to expand its international mail service to 46 destinations.

More surface mail destinations became available since ships are not as severely affected by travel restrictions as aeroplanes. Only surface mail is currently available to the United States of America.

Customers should remember to include their cell phone number with their address details so that the delivering Post Office is able to send them an SMS when the item is ready for collection. Customers who are expecting an international item are requested to collect the item from their local Post Office when they receive an SMS asking them to do so.

Mail is currently not available to Egypt, while air mail has become available to the Ukraine.

International items are delivered within an average of 10 workdays. For a quicker service, the Post Office offers the EMS service, which delivers items within 24 hours of arrival in the destination country.

Customers can easily access the electronic customs declaration form on the Post Office website for quick clearance of parcels. The form is under “tools” on the website www.postoffice.co.za(link is external).

South Africans are entitled to two tax-free gifts from abroad per year, provided the value of each gift is below R1400. More information is on the SARS website at https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/sending-or-receiving-goods-in-the-post/.

The SA Post Office advises customers who send parcels abroad to pack the items very securely and to use padding, as the mail is transported as bulk freight. International parcels can be tracked all the way to delivery.

It is illegal to send or receive live animals or plants, flammable or explosive goods or illegal substances such as drugs in the mail. Any form of medication may only be imported into South Africa if the sender has a permit to export medication to SA. Some countries do not allow the importing of any plant or animal products, even in sealed packaging. For more information, please visit the website of the postal administration in the receiving country.

Enquiries: Johan Kruger, 082 337-3116

Source: Government of South Africa