Report mail dumping

A RESIDENT was shocked when she found overseas Christmas cards, destined for family members in Glenwood, torn up and dumped in a drain in Berea.

She said on finding what remained of the cards she was so sad for the people these cards were sent to, as they would not be getting their personal cards from family and friends overseas.

“You could see these were expensive cards from abroad, with gold envelopes and air stamps, and it made me so sad to think a postal delivery man has taken it upon himself to tear these open, obviously looking for money, when people are left waiting for them,” she said.

The resident said she had called the post office to report it, and that they had suspected some cards would not be delivered.

According to the South African Post Office, the abandoned mail found by the resident were currently being retained as evidence in the investigation of the case and would be delivered immediately once investigations were complete.

Mlu Mathonsi, action GCEO for the South African Post Office, said, in terms of the post office policy, the dumping of mail was a serious transgression and disciplinary action was taken against employees suspected of committing it. Criminal charges are also laid with the South African Police Services against such violations.

“The Post Office cannot tolerate acts that undermine its service delivery. We have a zero tolerance policy towards postal crime and will take appropriate action to ensure that the law is followed and that our customers receive the desired levels of service delivery,” said Mathonsi.

As per the SA Post Office’s standard operating procedures, abandoned mail is delivered to the intended recipients as soon as possible once it has been retrieved.

Customers are also requested to report any incident or suspicion of mail abandonment acts to the Post Office’s Crime Hotline on 0800 020 070.