Postal Service Problems
I'm next in line for the camera after Raphael. However, I'm concerned because the South African Post Office (SAPO) seems to be in disarray at present. A few weeks ago on 1 April, the national airline South African Airways announced that they were suspending international shipments for SAPO because of SAPO's failure to pay them.
http://www.fin24.com/Tech/Companies/SAA-halts-SA-Post-Offices-global-service-20150401
(No, this was not an April Fool's joke even though it seems like one). This was apparently resolved when SAPO paid SAA a couple of days later. However a few days ago it was reported that SAPO's bank accounts had been attached for failure to a pay a USD $4M court judgment, apparently because they don't have the money to pay.
http://www.fin24.com/Tech/Companies/Post-Office-loses-bid-for-release-of-bank-accounts-20150424
I'm not sure if there will be any immediate effect on the postal service, but I can imagine SAA and other creditors being wary of offering credit to SAPO under these circumstances. On top of this, an item that I ordered from the USA which was shipped a month ago on 28 March has not yet arrived.
Under the circumstances, I am seriously concerned that the camera won't make it here at all, or will take an inordinately long time to do so. So unless there is some significant change for the better between now and when Raphael is ready to ship it, I think I should sit out this round. It pains me to do so, as I have been really looking forward to dazzling y'all with my artistry, but don't want to risk being responsible for the loss of the camera.
Sometimes it would be really nice to live somewhere where public services (the SAPO is a private company but is owned by the government) actually worked. Switzerland springs to mind
Sorry guys.
Andrew