'No worker left behind': Labour minister confirms R382 million UIF lifeline to save nearly 6,000 SAPO jobs
The Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, has confirmed the implementation of a new agreement between the South African Post Office (SAPO) and the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), aimed at preserving nearly 6,000 jobs and supporting the recovery of one of South Africa's most critical state-owned entities.
Through the Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (TERS), the UIF will inject over R382 million into SAPO over six months. The funds will provide immediate financial relief to 5,956 employees while enabling SAPO to implement a long-term turnaround strategy.
'This is a bold and necessary step to protect workers and restore confidence in our public institutions,' said Meth.
'The TERS programme is not just a financial mechanism — it is a strategic tool to stabilise employment, support economic recovery and ensure that no worker is left behind.'
Funds will be disbursed in monthly tranches through a dedicated TERS bank account. Meth emphasised that this will happen 'with strict governance, auditing and compliance measures in place.'
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Its application is limited to people who are black, of mixed race, and Indian, and excludes white people, including those with disabilities. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Explaining the difference between the two policies, Jeffery said the BEE uses race as a proxy for disadvantage, EED targets the poor, and identifies disadvantage based on a means test. 'This would enable poor whites to benefit too, but 99% of its benefits would in practice go to poor black people. Its non-racial focus would reduce racial divisions, put an end to race classification, and comply with the Constitution's founding value of non-racialism. 'The EED is voluntary, which means companies would no longer be required to keep the current BEE scorecard to aid them in state procurement contracts, or race-based ownership deals, management posts, and procurement contracts. EED's scorecard incentivises companies for their key contributions to the economy by rewarding them with EED points for these actions. With EED, the points cannot be redeemed to gain from preferential procurement,' Jeffery said. She added that EED introduces education and health voucher-based support for poor people to be used at schools or health facilities of their choice. This, she said, will redirect much of the revenue now spent on dysfunctional schools, hospitals, and housing developments into tax-funded vouchers for low-income families. 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