AFTER numerous complaints from residents regarding the unsafe and unsanitary conditions at the Hillcrest Post Office, the DA PR ward 8 and 103 councillor has called on all role-players to band together to address the issue.
According the councillor, Remona Mckenzie, customers were unable to access their post boxes and staff members have said they feared for their lives as they have been witness to people using drugs.
“Needles have been found on site while the staff are cleaning and they are aware of that,” she said.
It was reported that at least 20 people make use of the space surrounding the post boxes each evening, despite locked gates and entrances.
“I have received numerous complaints. Residents are not happy. They pay taxes, they are paying for these post boxes but this issue is just not being addressed. This is not an isolated issue as many councillors and residents across the whole of Durban are facing this issue,” said Mckenzie.
During the day, the bedding is stashed on ledges above the post boxes or in trolleys that are left on site.
According to Mckenzie, visiting the Hillcrest Post Office during the day had also become a concern as handfuls of patrons were found loitering the post box corridors for hours, were not wearing masks and did not adhere to any social distancing protocols.
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The Highway Mail recently conducted an on-site visit to the Hillcrest Post Office with the DA PR ward 8 and 103 councillor.
During the visit, there were nine individuals who wore a mask but did not have their mouth or nose covered.
A further 12 individuals did not have a mask visible on their person.
There was no queueing system in place and social distancing was not being enforced.
“When the vagrants are removed and taken to shelter, they leave and come back. I understand they cannot be removed if they are not causing a nuisance, but when they come into private property in the evenings, it is a different matter entirely,” she said. “It needs to be urgently addressed.”
Mckenzie hopes to partner with DSW to host a clean-up at the Hillcrest Post office as well as the taxi rank.
“The socio-economic problem resulting in homeless occupation of buildings and drug taking should be urgently addressed as there is an increase in burglary and crime in the area. We would like for them to be educated and empowered, uplift them and upskill them. We need to put our heads together as a society. It’s painful to see people suffer, take drugs and have no one to guide them. Many of us have been through issues, but we were guided and shown a direction. We need to assist as a collective,” she said.
The South African Post Office failed to respond to questions.
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