In January the Herald reported that the Randfontein Post Office in Stubb Street looked like a dump and that its grounds last had been cleaned a year before.
Refuse was strewn outside and inside the building, the grass was uncut and on the inside – where the post boxes are situated – the windows were broken and litter was everywhere.
At that stage Merwin Prins, the area manager, commented, “We are well aware of the situation but the property and infrastructure divisions of the regional office are in control of the outside maintenance. The contractors that worked on the premises failed to finish their work when the Post Office crisis happened.
The Post Office industry is battling financially and sometimes there simply are no funds.”
Conditions have deteriorated as proved by a photo resident Suzie du Toit took of a man sleeping on the counter where residents collect there post.
After more complaints from the public, the Herald revisited the post office on Monday 4 April.
The condition of the post office showed no improvement, with litter strewn in the grass and all around the building. The grass remained uncut, with small bushes popping up everywhere. On the inside, the windows are still broken and the counter near the post boxes was filthy. Lungi Madito, manager of the post office, said, “This is my first day here, I was not aware of any people sleeping on the counter”.
Moridow Collins, a car guard, said two people sleep in the area where the post boxes are – almost every night. One of them sleeps there during the day as well, not fazed by those entering the building to collect their post.
“They even use this area as a toilet. It is very easy for them to enter, because the door does not have a lock.”
Collins and his fellow car guards regularly clean that area, using a branch to sweep away all the rubbish.
Hannie Strauss, another resident said,
This place is unsafe. It has a terrible smell and the counter at the post boxes is always extremely dirty. What happens to our tax money?”
Peter Garnett, a regular visitor to the post office, said, “I am not happy with the way this place looks”.
The Herald contacted Gerald Persent, acting area manager of the Retail Department, South West Rand SAPO, but he said the Communication Department will respond to this complaint soon.
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Also read:
Randfontein post office a dump
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