The man tasked with turning around the beleaguered South African Post Office (Sapo), Simo Lushaba, has been given another extended term by government.

Sapo was put under administration in November last year after a protracted four-month illegal strike that dented postal services.

Lushaba was subsequently made the Post Office’s administrator in light of a tough financial situation at the parastatal as well.

Earlier this month, Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Siyabonga Cwele, revealed in a response to a Parliamentary question that Sapo owes almost R245m to more than 2 000 suppliers, and is in arrears of over six months.

In light of all these problems, Minister Cwele has extended Lushaba’s term to September 30. This follows Lushaba’s term being extended in February of this year as well.

“Since November 2014, the labour relations environment at the Post Office has improved, allowing for a period of uninterrupted service delivery,” said the department of telecommunications and postal services in a statement on Friday.

The department further said that Cabinet has approved a ‘strategic turnaround plan’ (STP) during this period and that Cwele has considered the need to have a seamless transition at the top leadership level of the SA Post Office as it implements the STP.

The department also noted that Lushaba is expected to continue overseeing the implementation of the STP, assist in the handover process to the new board, and orientate the new board on the STP.