Dodging filth to retrieve mail
Pioneer Park residents say its about time somebody took responsibility for cleaning up the filth around the post boxes.
Residents who retrieve their mail from the Pioneer Park post boxes say they have to circumvent a revolting mess every time they do so.
General household rubbish and discarded food lies scattered just outside, and members of the community who asked not to be named say it’s about time somebody took responsibility for cleaning it up.
“We can’t continue living with this filth. Someone really needs to do something,” said a pensioner who frequents who collects her mail there.
“There used to be two bins outside the post office in which people could deposit their rubbish, but some homeless people lit a fire in one of the bins to keep warm and because the bin is plastic it burned to ash. Now, there is just one bin and there is litter lying everywhere.”
Staff members at the post office, unofficially explained that the homeless people who took shelter around the post boxes were an on-going problem as they tended to leave their litter lying on the ground.
Spokesperson for the post office, Nobuhle Njapha, said the delivery management division was responsible for cleaning the post boxes, besides sorting the mail.
“We do not have control over the homeless and rely on the public and the SAPS to assist where possible. We will work with the SAPS to address this problem and if necessary, we will implement other measures to keep the post box area clean. The SA post office strives to always ensure the cleanliness of our buildings,” said Ms Njapha.
Residents are urged to report any form of untidiness, litter or uncleanliness to the Newcastle branch on 034 312 7131.
