Glen Austin resident frustrated over Boulders Post Office closure

Ian Measures, a Glen Austin resident since 2001, is furious over the abrupt closure of the post office at the Boulders Shopping Centre in Midrand.

Measures, who has been using the same post office for around two decades, says he does not trust street delivery, hence he opted for a post box.

However, he had the surprise of his life when he visited the post office and found that it was closed – allegedly without any notice. He then contacted the post office’s customer services department via email on November 10, but he is yet to receive a response regarding the closure. In the email seen by the paper, he questioned where his paid post box service mail would be delivered and could be collected.

The irate resident claims that customers were not given notices, especially those who have been paying an annual post box rental fee for many years.
“For several years we have been using a post box at the Boulders Shopping Centre. I visited the post office and found it permanently closed, without any prior warning. Not only was this always a very busy post office, but what will now happen to our mail? Why wasn’t any prior warning given? Where can I collect the mail that will still be addressed to our post box and the mail already in transit? Please provide some urgent assistance,” asked Measures.

Six days later, on November 16, he sent a follow-up email asking where his mail was being rerouted.

He’s confused by the decision to close this particular branch because it was always busy. especially when the social grants were paid the recipients’ queue would be long- up all the way to the exits.
He said the vehicle licensing counter is always busy with people waiting to be served.

“For us all, the closure is an inconvenience, but for social grant recipients and the general population without their own transport, the inconvenience and additional costs to them are massive. Until I receive advice and assistance, I have no idea what is happening to my mail.”

Asked which nearest post office to use, he said he was told by the officials from the post office via a phone call to use the Olifantsfontein Post Office, which is some 16km away.

Post Office spokesperson Suzie Khumalo was contacted by the paper on November 17, asking her about the situation.
She responded on November 21, saying, “My apologies for acknowledging receipt of your inquiry today. Please note that we have escalated your inquiry to the business rescue practitioners for a response. You should hear from them soon”.

Since then, reminder emails have been sent to Khumalo on November 27 and had not responded at the time of going to print.

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