Number of the Day - 11 December 2025: 0

Today’s Number of the Day is 0, the exact number of letters the South African Post Office delivered after Francis Herd mailed seven letters to different parts of the country two months ago. Despite SAPO reporting a 62% delivery rate in October, and despite regulatory requirements that 92% of letters be delivered on time, none of the seven items in Francis’ test reached a single destination. In this episode, Francis walks through the experiment step-by-step, from posting letters to Johannesburg, Cape Town, East London, Durban and Springs, to waiting more than eight weeks with nothing arriving; including the letter she mailed to herself. She then investigates what this says about the Post Office’s service collapse, why SAPO is now in business rescue, and how government hopes a private-sector partner might help revive the institution. With digital alternatives now replacing many of SAPO’s core services; social grants, banking access, bill payments and even information access; this episode asks a difficult question: is the Post Office still a national necessity, or has the world already moved on? Watch all Number of the Day episodes here: https://www.enca.com/number-day-podcast