UPDATE: Postal problems persist with few answers from SA Post Office

The dire state of the SA Post Office and its services has affected hundreds of Benoni residents, who have been left with many questions but no answers.

Customers whose postboxes where moved from Rynfield Terrace Post Office to Isando a few months ago, following the branch’s closure, said they haven’t had any communication from the Post Office since.

The City Times, in March, published this article ‘Landlord moves postboxes from Rynfield to Isando” where the Post Office spokesperson, Johan Kruger, said the landlord from whom they rented space suspended the lease contract and moved the postboxes to Isando.

“We have retrieved the list of postbox renters from our database and will allocate postboxes to them at a more convenient location,” said Kruger.

He added their customers will receive a message from the post office “within the next week”, however, customers are still in the dark.

The City Times again approached Kruger for comment and he revealed that the Rynfield postboxes have been moved to Benoni post office at 51 Ampthill Avenue.

Also Read: SA Post Office update on branches in Boksburg and Benoni

“Parcels that were sent to Rynfield post office can be collected at Northmead post office,” he said, adding that Rynfield post office has been permanently closed.

Meanwhile, Rynfield Terrace customers have not been the only ones affected by post office changes.

In the last few weeks the City Times has been inundated with calls from concerned residents about the closures of Northmead and Farrarmere post offices. Both branches have since reopened their doors.

To determine the reason for the closures, the City Times spoke to the manager at the Northmead branch who refuted claims that this branch ever closed.

All attempts to get clarity for our readers from the post office spokesperson have been unsuccessful thus far.

Visit to Benoni depot
The City Times recently visited the Benoni Post Office depot where we discovered hundreds of postal items piled up at the centre’s shelves.

An employee, who wanted to remain anonymous, said they have had many people coming to the depot to check for mail and claiming they have not received mail for many months.

The employee said that the non-functionality of post office vehicles and the non-payment of rentals at various branches were among the reasons for the chaotic state of affairs, adding the post office is doing its best to meet customers’ needs.

‘Devastating” experiences faced by customers
Peter, a Beyers Park resident who has a postbox at Lakeview, said he hasn’t received any mail since last year.

“Since January I’ve been expecting a mail from overseas, which has until now not reached me. I have complained on all Post Office channels but nothing has been done. We pay for the services but we are not getting the services,” said Peter.

Benoni customer Barbara Hayward wrote: “I have a Rynfield post box situated at the entrance to Country View (Rynfield Ext 11). The boxes are still there but there has been no delivery since last year. To date there has been no communication from the post office, so I’m trying to track where our mail has gone to.

“I enquired at Benoni main post office and was told Rynfield box mail had been sent to Northmead post office. Northmead told me the mail was at Isando Post Office. Isando Post Office told me they had sent all Rynfield mail back to Benoni as Isando was not convenient for Benoni residents.

“This morning I went to the mail sorting department at the back of Benoni Post Office where the staff were sitting idle, clearly with nothing to do. They showed me the cubbyholes where they sort the mail.

“Sure enough there were several allocated to the Rynfield box numbers specific to Country View, with hardly any mail in them and nothing for me.

“They then told me that they have had no delivery of mail from the Post Office hub in Johannesburg for over three months as the truck is broken!

“No wonder they have no work to do. It’s unbelievable that postal delivery comes to a standstill because of one truck.”

Another disgruntled Benoni customer wrote: “I utilise the services of the Post Office in Spar, Rynfield Terrace.

“I know for a fact that it was closed down because you (Post Office) did not pay your rent. However, I have been paying my post box rental for years and if that’s not bad enough, you move the post boxes to Isando. I’d like to know how you expect me to get to Isando to clear my post box?

“I’m not interested in doing any further business with the post office, but I want my full 2022 rental of R375 refunded.

“Since the beginning of 2022, I think I’ve had about four items in my box and there should have been many more,” said the resident.

Also Read: Rynfield Post Office closed for now