The South African Post Office (Sapo) has announced an immediate suspension of all outbound parcels to the United States. This move places South Africa among more than a dozen countries that have paused postal services to Washington, following recent US policy changes.
The US government has removed a longstanding exemption that allowed packages worth less than $800 to enter duty-free. Under the new rule, all incoming parcels will now be subject to tariffs based on their country of origin, or face flat fees ranging from R80 to R200 per package, depending on tariff rates.
Sapo’s joint business rescue practitioner, Anoosh Rooplal, explained that the new regulations require complex compliance measures that the postal service is currently unable to meet. As a result, they have decided to temporarily halt shipments to the US. Rooplal added, “We regret any inconvenience this may cause our customers.”
Until a new system is in place to manage the collection and payment of US duties, parcels cannot be dispatched. However, certain mail classes—such as documents, letters, and military mail—are exempt from the new tariffs and restrictions.
This suspension adds further pressure to Sapo, which has been struggling financially and undergoing operational restructuring. The South African government previously injected R381 million from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) in May to help save around 6,000 jobs. Additionally, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies allocated R1.8 million over the medium term to support Sapo’s business rescue efforts.
The move underscores the broader impact of international policy changes on local postal services, affecting businesses and consumers who rely on international shipping.