The Bryanston Post Office has been the subject of much debate and has become the root of stress for many who use its services.
Resident Arthur Godbeer described his recent experiences at the Bryanston Post Office as a ‘debacle’.
Cameron MacKenzie, Shadow Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, explained what the problems are. “The Bryanston Post Office on Main Road in Bryanston was locked by the landlord due to the Sapo failing to pay its rent,” he said.
Mackenzie explained that in January, he requested the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Siyabonga Cwele, to come up with a solution to the problem, and information was supplied to him by Cwele.
“According to the landlord, the following amounts, including utilities, are overdue and the Sapo is busy with its reconciliation of the outstanding amounts as it is not in full agreement. Mail delivery amounts to R422 609, retail amounts to R18 703 and the total due is R441 312,” explained MacKenzie.
He added that most of the Bryanston mail has since been retrieved. “The equipment is still onsite. The landlord will only release the equipment once the payment is made in full. No settlement arrangements have been made because the post office is currently doing a reconciliation of the outstanding amounts. As far as I have been able to ascertain, this answer notwithstanding, there are still [some] mail items that remain undelivered,” he said.
MacKenzie said that in a bid to restore services, the post office has reopened a branch at the Sloane Square Shopping Centre and invited clients to collect their mail there.
Paul Fouche, regional manager of the South African Post Office (Sapo) said, “We expect the postboxes at Bryanston to be operational within no more than five weeks and we’d like to thank our customers for their loyalty and patience. The sorting of mail will soon be done onsite at Bryanston in the future and that will improve delivery standards for Bryanston postbox renters.”
Mackenzie concluded, “As the post office continues to lose money at a rate of R125 million every month, I do not anticipate the entity being in a position to settle this amount in the near future.”
