Post strike results in power cuts
"I did not know how much I owed the municipality. Because of the post office strike, we have not been getting our bills and now our lights have been switched off," says a disgruntled resident.
Several residents in Laudium, Erasmia and Atteridgeville have complained bitterly after the Tshwane metro cut off their electricity on Tuesday for non-payment after they have not been getting their municipality bills because of the prolonged Post Office strike.
Laudium resident Faziel Mohamed said he had not received his municipal bill for six weeks.
“I did not know how much I owed the municipality as the Post Office has been on strike and we have not been getting our letters. Now all of a sudden, Tshwane metro workers came to switch our lights off,” he said.
“This is not good, it’s not like we don’t want to pay. But we need proof of how much we owe.”
Post Office employees have been on strike for 13 weeks now and many outlets have closed shop.
Another resident, Jacob Moiloa, said he had not been getting mail for the past 10 weeks.
“This is a big headache for us as residents, we just hope that the Post Office and its staff sort out their differences so that we can get our mail in time.”
Moiloa said some of his children could not apply for government jobs because of the Post Office not delivering mail.
“Most government jobs require the applicant to send their CV through the post, but now the post offices are closed and my children cannot send their job applications. Sending them through courier services is very expensive and we can’t afford it.”
Erasmia Ward Councillor Unus Joosub said the strike had created much inconvenience among residents and businesses in the area.
“People are still phoning me to ask about the post office strike. All I know is that the strike is still ongoing. It is very frustrating,” said Joosub.
Last week, a post office in Atteridgeville was petrol-bombed by eight men who entered the building posing as customers.
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Also read: Strike leads to closure of post offices
Postal strike enters eleventh week
Post Office in urgent talks with employees
