Khumalo and Eden Park post offices closed
The post office has been closed since February 8.
It has been almost two months since residents of Katlehong and surrounding areas have had no access to the services rendered at the Khumalo Post Office located at Sontonga Mall.
The post office has been closed since February 8.
A resident who lives near the mall, Manka Leboto (62), told Kathorus MAIL the closure has inconvenienced them greatly.
“We used the post office to pay our licence disk, while people who benefit from the R350 relief grant are no longer able to make use of this service,” said Leboto.
“The government is trying to eradicate poverty but by closing the post office the situation has been made worse. People are now struggling to get their relief fund.
“For those living in the squatter camps it was very easy for them to make use of the facility,” said Leboto.
Peter Mposula (67) from Siluma View in Katlehong said he hardly used the post office at the mall. He, however, feels sorry for the people who use to work at the post office, especially at a time where it is really difficult to find a job.
Yolo Ngendane (60) said the post office must be reopened, although he does not know how but it will operate.
He said he cannot afford to travel to another post office because he is unemployed.
“I used the post office to send parcels, to certify documents, make copies and print. Now I have to use the internet café and I have to travel to Katlehong North SAPS to certify documents,” said Ngendane.
The communications manager at the South African Post Office (Sapo), Johan Kruger, explained the closure of the post office follows a dispute over rental with the property owner.
“Constant follow-ups are being made to ensure the parties can agree so we can render a service to the community in that area.
“A notice is displayed on the door to redirect the customers to the Kwenzekile Post Office in Mnisi and Katlehong Post Office in Ga Maphutheng shopping complex,” said Kruger.
Kruger said Khumalo Post Office is only temporarily closed and will re-open as soon as possible.
Eden Park Post Office
The closure of Khumalo Post Office was followed by Eden Park Post Office.
A resident in the area, Fabian Watson, reported that their post office has been closed as well.
Eden Park residents posed questions to Sapo and afforded Kruger time to respond.
Questions and answers
Q: Was there any consultation done with communities regarding the closure of their respective outlets?
A: Notices are placed at the outlets in advance before the closure of the post office. Conversations with the communities are not always possible because merging outlets is sometimes unavoidable.
Q: What criteria was used to close a post office?
A: Merging, closing and opening of sites are done after several factors are considered, including the market analysis, the impact of the change on the customers’ needs and profitability.
Q: Specifically speaking to the Eden Park Post Office, was there an opportunity to include other services that could generate revenue as they were requested, such as licence renewal?
A: Services such as car licence renewal and Lotto can only be done after complicated legal procedures. For example, all post offices where you can pay for a car licence must be promulgated in the Government Gazette, and the Department of Transport has to supply an e-Natis computer.
This means we cannot quickly offer more services to make an outlet profitable. The post office provides as many services as it possibly can at its branches, but not all services can be provided everywhere.
Q: Was there an impact study done to gauge the effect on the surrounding and immediate communities where these post offices were going to be closed?
A: We only merges branches in cities that are close together to make sure the impact on the community is minimalised.
Q: It is understood that a courier service is in the pipeline for the post office, how is that justified while the core business has failed?
A: Worldwide, postal administrations see that the demand for letter mail is dropping and the demand for other services such as courier services is increasing. That is due to more and more people who now order items online.
The post office already has a courier service in the form of speed services, and we continuously monitor its performance to ensure it is up to standard.
The post office also acts as a point where communities can access government services such as social grants, and each month it successfully does the payment of eight million Sassa grants. Up to five million people per month receive their Covid R350 grants from a post office.
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