THE four short-listed companies that are potential strategic management partners for the South African Post Office were announced on Monday by Posts and Telecoms Minister Jay Naidoo during debate on his budget vote. They are Canada Post, Deutsche Post, Italy’s La Posta and a consortium of New Zealand Post and Royal Mail. Each party has been asked to submit detailed proposals for the management of the partnership. Naidoo said it is hoped one of them will be chosen by the end of May. His department’s 1999/2000 budget is 12% lower than last year, helped by the reduction of the post office subsidy from R450-million to R283-million.