Boksburg Post Office still in ‘vagrant’ shambles

The ward councillor has said that the time had come for the matter to be taken to parliament for pointed intervention.

Clr Marius de Vos looking in disbelief at the poor state of the Boksburg Post Office.

Although the EMPD removes and relocates vagrants, buildings are often taken over as makeshift places of residence.

The Boksburg Post Office in Leeuwpoort Street is an example of this. The Advertiser in 2018 reported how the post boxes used by hundreds of residents for many years are getting more difficult to access due to the presence of vagrants.

In 2015, the Advertiser reported on the seven-week project of the DA to keep the environment at the Boksburg post office clean.

Such a cleanup effort also took place the following year.

DA Ward 32 branch chairperson Marius de Vos confirmed the post office was, at the time, well looked after, but this is no longer the case.

According to him, the state of the premises at the post office has worsened.

“It is a total disgrace. This is a public entity supposed to deliver postal services to the community, but has become an informal settlement,” said de Vos.

One resident said that the state of the post office is disgusting.

“I pay tax and for the post box every year, yet I have to go through the smell of urine twice a week to get my post.”

The tragic state of the Boksburg Post Office was reported in November last year. Sadly, nothing has changed.

“There are dirty mattresses and rubbish on the lawn for everyone to see,” said de Vos.

According to de Vos, the management of the postal services is doing clients a disservice.

“It is unheard of that postal services can be shared with makeshift shacks on the same premises.

“This phenomenon is a clear indication of maladministration and a total collapse of the postal services at Boksburg Post Office. The building is not kept clean and resembles a dilapidated building.”

De Vos said the post office is a crime hotspot in the CBD where illicit drugs and alcohol are being consumed in the public.

“Both the postal services management and law enforcement agencies are to be blamed for the current appalling conditions at the local post office.

“I have been trying to convince the acting manager at the post office to act but he only threw his hands up in the air.

The Advertiser is waiting for comment from the post office.