Never-ending queues at post office are overwhelming

DESPITE the many complaints regarding the long queues at government institutions, the lines are persisting. What’s more, there is little or no social distancing.

Jam packed post offices are a common sight with hundreds of people trying to access the special Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress amount of R350.

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The temporary grant was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in April as part of an economic relief package to assist those in need during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.

Residents believe the queues at the post office will continue to be an issue as the president announced in his latest nation address that the R350 will continue to be paid for a further three months.

A concerned Hillcrest resident who wrote to the Highway Mail said he visited the post office on a day it was raining heavily. He said there seemed to be little movement of people.

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The resident expressed that his biggest fear was that many people may be there for hours and dreaded that when they did eventually reach the front of the queue they may be told to come back the following day.

“Surely the post office people can make some better provision for their customers,” he added.

Post Office spokesperson, Nobuhle Njapha said in post offices where they pay Covid-19 grant, they issue numbering in the morning to ensure that they abide by the regulation of social distancing and encourage recipients to wear face masks at all times.

Njapha said unfortunately some people who have not even received an SMS to collect their grant, join the queue with an aim to check their statuses.

“We have requested through different media platforms that only those that have received an SMS should visit the post office for collection,” explained Njapha.

She added that post office employees are also doing their part of making announcements every few minutes on the numbers that will be paid on the day.

She said the announcements are done to cut the long queues.

One of the recipients, Bonginkosi Mnqondo said he has been turned away on two instances only to be told to return the following day.

“I did receive an SMS but when I got to the post office, I stood in the long queue for hours, as it was approaching closing time we were given numbers and told to return as there was no money left.

Mnqondo said they do appreciate what the government is doing for them but standing in those long queues only to return empty handed is frustrating. “I walk to the post office and stand there with hope that I will catch a taxi on my way back,” he said.

Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting

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