The Bromhof post boxes have become a growing safety concern for residents as visible signs of structural neglect and poor security escalate.

The building shows signs of neglect, with worn-out ceilings, deteriorating structural elements and a damaged perimeter fence that leaves the property vulnerable to unauthorised access. These conditions affect community members who rely on the facility, with users concerned about the risks posed by damaged infrastructure, unsecured areas and trespassers.

Resident Alison Laxton said the state of the facility has contributed to the area becoming increasingly attractive to vagrants. According to Laxton, residents are scared. With alleged drug dealing and unlawful occupation, residents have changed running routes and stopped allowing children to walk home from school past the area due to an increase in petty crime and public misconduct, including open drug use, public drinking, vandalism and violence.

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She added that known local vagrants have been causing distress to residents for many years, often threatening motorists, damaging cars or throwing rocks at vehicles while under the influence. “It has psychologically affected residents, as they don’t feel safe, especially vulnerable people like woman, children and the elderly.”

In response, concerned residents took matters into their own hands by organising a clean-up of the post boxes and surrounding areas, carrying out minor repairs, fixing sections of the damaged fence, and securing the property by locking the gates. “We first did a clean-up in August as the Community Heroes group. The situation was dire. The post office was overrun with vagrants and was being used as a campsite. The smell was awful as the vagrants had been toileting on site. The site was also very dirty and full of litter. We found drug paraphernalia including needles and meth pipes on site, along with makeshift weapons,” she said. “We needed the support of JMPD, our ward councillor and security to safely attend to the clean-up. We removed over 15 black refuse bags of overgrown vegetation, litter and drug paraphernalia. The building itself is in a poor condition. Broken windows and attempts by the vagrants to break into the main post office building are evidence. There is also graffiti and signs of vandalism.”

While the clean-up has made an immediate difference, residents believe more needs to be done to address the underlying problems. They want responsible authorities to repair the building, fix damaged infrastructure and properly secure the facility.

For residents, the post boxes remain an important facility, and they say the site’s condition should not be allowed to deteriorate further at the expense of local safety and well-being. “The post office must take active steps to properly maintain, secure and monitor the premises at their own cost. They may have saved costs in business rescue by not delivering post or attending to maintain the building, but this comes at a huge cost to the community who must deal with abandoned and poorly maintained buildings that serve as hotspots for nefarious individuals.”

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Ward 101 councillor Ralf Bitkau confirmed that the facility has been a problem for residents for years. He said he has been reporting the issue, but no action has been taken so far. “Post office is a national entity, so I will try and put pressure through our people in parliament. This has been going on for years, but, unfortunately, nothing is being done. The community has stepped up and fixed a few things and cleaned the area but there is still nothing from the entity. This is an ongoing problem and we need the entity to do something and get this facility in good conditions.”

The Randburg Sun reached out to post office spokesperson Suzie Khumalo, who acknowledged the enquiry and referred it to Louise Burgman for a response. Their response will be published once made available.

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