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Standard permit impressions

Impression

Only envelopes with the standard permit mail impression will be accepted by Postal Services. The seven digit permit number is the same number as the account number of the University.

Permit mail may not be posted in street post boxes, but must be handed in at Postal Services.

Local and national mail

Advertising mail

Advertising mail may be used for recruiting new students, sending questionnaires or information about special offers or competition details.

The advertising mail service ensures that sales, promotional or advertising messages reach the University’s target market in the most cost-effective way.

This service also helps measure the response and success of an advertising campaign.

A minimum consignment of 1000 articles per size or mass category, the content of which is solely of an advertising or promotional nature, is required to qualify for advertising mail. It may not include any additional items related to previous business with the addressee (such as invoices, monthly statements or reference to outstanding payments).

Advertising mail must contain a response device approved by the Post Office, i.e. a Business Reply item, a Freepost address, an addressed coupon response or clear encouragement to reply to the offer by mail.

The mail response options should be given equal prominence with any other response mechanisms recommended.

A complete sample of the mailing must be presented at the time of forwarding this to Postal Services in order to make the necessary arrangements.

Bulk mail

Bulk

Postal Services bulk mail operations offers the full range of mail processing functions,including addressing and inserting.

The domestic bulk posting service is a cost-effective way of sending large quantities of mail, but applies only to letters posted in South Africa and domestic bulk mail intended for delivery in South Africa.

Business Reply Service

Business Reply Service [BRS] is a simple and effective way of obtaining a response to direct marketing communication.

BRS offers the incentive to addressees to reply without having to pay postage.

Two options are available: a pre-printed business reply postcard or envelope included in the mailing (samples of designs can be obtained from Postal Services) or the advertising of a specified Freepost address and BRS number to which clients may respond (no postage stamp required).

BRS postal articles can be used to:

  • Stimulate increased response from clients;
  • Build an accurate list (database) of clients;
  • Return completed questionnaires;
  • Renew subscriptions to publications; and

A BRS licence may be applied for at the SA Post Office.

An annual licence fee is payable in advance.

A licensee must deposit an amount that will cover the postage and service fee likely to accrue over six weeks.

BRS may be used in conjunction with Fastmail. Advertisements may be placed on the back of the BRS envelope/postcard for exposure at no extra cost.

Fastmail

FastmailFastmail ensures that any standard or non-standard postal article is delivered faster than the set delivery standard for ordinary mail, i.e. two-day letter delivery in and between major centres (Johannesburg, Potchefstroom, Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Pretoria, Cape Town, Ladysmith, Durban, Mafikeng, Pietersburg, George, East London, Nelspruit, Richards Bay, Welkom, Harrismith, Port Shepstone, Port Elizabeth) and three-day letter delivery for all other destinations.

Fastmail receives preferential treatment, provided that it is handed in at Postal Services before the cut off time

If Fastmail items are posted in non-dedicated postboxes, e.g. a red postbox, they cannot be given preferential treatment and will go into the ordinary mail stream with ordinary mail delivery standards.

Fastmail is delivered at regular postal delivery points, e.g. private postbox or street address.

Fastmail postage-included envelopes are easily recognisable and instantly distinguishable from ordinary mail. They are on sale at all Post Offices in DL maxi, B5, C4 and B4 sizes. Fastmail is only available for South African destinations.

Postal articles that weigh more than 1000g and/or are thicker than 30mm and/or bigger than 353mm x 250mm will not be accepted as Fastmail items.

Fastmail cannot be used in conjunction with the registered letter service, Parcelplus or Speed Services Couriers.

Infomail

The Infomail service involves the distribution of all unaddressed mail. This includes pamphlets, brochures, and unaddressed newspapers, trade samples and household circulars.

A pamphlet is an un-enveloped, unaddressed information/advertising item comprising one sheet of paper folded to A5 size (210mm x 148mm). The folded pamphlet may not be thicker than 2mm nor weigh more than 50g. A brochure is an un-enveloped, unaddressed rolled or folded information/advertising item not exceeding 353mm x 250mm, 200g in mass nor 5mm in thickness. An unaddressed newspaper (for example local area newspaper) is a rolled or folded item not exceeding 353mm in length, 200g in mass nor 70mm in thickness when rolled or folded.

Insurance

The indurance cover facility is applicable only in the Republic of South Africa. A valuable item may be insured with the Post Office against damage or loss.

Magmail

A service specifically designed with a unique logo to address the specific needs of the magazine and newspaper industry.

Magmail refers to all postal articles of which the contents are publications or printed matter intended for public sale or distribution.

The publication must be printed at least quarterly (once every three months), identified as a magazine or newspaper and should consist of news, opinions, illustrations, articles, editorials and advertising.

A complete sample of the mailing must be presented at the time of forwarding this to Postal Services.

A special, uniquely identifiable logo must be placed on the cover of every postal article to ensure it receives the required service.

Magmail offers a unique identifier for magazine and newspaper mail and is a cost-effective way of sending magazines and/or newspapers to readers.

Clients may choose how they want articles to be distributed to match the urgency of the publications.

Ordinary letter mail

Ordinary letter

The ordinary letter mail service is the standard postal service with set delivery standards from the time of despatch to arrival at the point of delivery. Postage in the domestic letter mail service is paid according to the size of the article, as follows:

 

  • Small DL: maximum thickness: 5mm; maximum mass: 50g; maximum size: 12mm x 235mm; minimum size: 90mm x 140mm.
  • Medium B5: maximum thickness; 10mm; maximum mass: 1kg; maximum size: 250mm x 176mm.
  • Large B4: maximum thickness: 30mm; maximum mass: 1kg; maximum size: 353mm x 250mm.
  • Postcards: maximum thickness: 0,295mm; maximum mass: 10g; maximum size: 353mm x 250mm.
  • Cylinders/rolled items: maximum thickness: 70mm; maximum mass: 1kg; maximum size: 620mm.

Ordinary parcel

Ordinary ParcelParcelplus (SA Post Office )is the most economical way to send a parcel and is available at any Post Office outlet, This counter-to-counter service provides for parcels to be delivered to any other Post Office counter in the country.

Any postal item larger than 250mm x 353mm and/or thicker than 30mm and/or weighing more than 1kg will be considered a parcel.

Parcelplus is a convenient and dependable option whereby a parcel may be sent from the nearest post office for delivery to approximately 2400 Post Office counters countrywide.

Postcards

PostcardPostcards are used to convey unenclosed messages and greetings. They must be rectangular, made of cardboard or paper stiff enough so as not to hamper mail-handling, bear the indication Postcard on the front and have the right-hand half of the back reserved for the address, prepayment and service instructions.

Promotional mail

Promotional mail is all addressed mail (including teaser/advance mailings) in a minimum consignment of 1000 articles per size or mass category of which the content is solely of an advertising or promotional nature.

It may not include any additional items related to previous business with the addressee (such as invoices, monthly statements or reference to outstanding payments).

Registered mail (Domestic)

Registered mail

The registered letter (with insurance option) is a cost-effective, secure and traceable way to post articles of financial value.

The registered letter with insurance option can be used for letters that require a signature on delivery, that contain, for example, something of value, money, important documents such as share certificates, passports or airline tickets that require tracking and tracing from acceptance to delivery.

A registered letter is electronically scanned, enabling it to be tracked and traced on its journey throughout the postal system.

Compensation is payable according to the insurance cover that was used

Small DL 120mm x 235mm x 50g.

Medium B5 250mm x 176mm x 1kg.

Large B4 353mm x 250mm x 1kg.

Registered mail offers full domestic Track and Trace, free insurance up to the value of R100, identification and signature on delivery, optional extra insurance up to the value of R2000 is available as well as detailed proof of acceptance and delivery.

Track and Trace

The Track and Trace facility is only applicable in the Republic of South Africa.

http://www.parceltrack.co.za/

Foreign mail letters/international mail

Foreign

International letter and parcel services are available worldwide, either by airmail or by surface mail. A variety of regulations regarding addressing and custom declarations applies to international mail.

Aerogram

Special prepaid airmail letters consisting of one lightweight folded sheet of paper that can be sealed. No enclosures are permitted.

Postcards

Cards used to post unenclosed messages and greetings.

Small letters

Private and business letters up to 50g and no bigger than 12mm x 235mm x 5mm.

Medium letters

Private and business letters up to 250g and no bigger than 250mm x 176mm x 10mm.

Large letters

Private and business letters up to 300g and no bigger than 353mm x 250mm x 30mm.

Small parcels

Used for small quantities of low-mass goods under 2kg at a lower rate and with simpler customs declarations than those for large parcels.

Large parcels

Used to post goods and material up to 20kg. The maximum mass differs from country to country.

Registered mail

A separately streamed service with added security for letter post items. Letters may be registered, but not insured, in the international mail service.

Value-added international mail services

Value can be added to basic international mail services by buying additional value-added services. These include express delivery, registration, insurance and advice-of-delivery. As these add-on services are not available in some countries or for some categories of mail, enquiries should be made before sending a postal item.

International reply coupons

The international reply coupon service enables customers to prepay the postage on a reply from a correspondent abroad. Coupons sent abroad may be exchanged for one or more postage stamps representing the minimum postage to be prepaid on an airmail letter.

Exchange control regulations

Exchange control regulations apply equally to postal items as they do to other exports. Generally, items worth more than R1000.00 require specific export documents to be completed.

Customs declarations

The extent of customs declarations is regulated by the statutes of the Universal Postal Union and the requirements of destination countries.