Post office buildings now haven for vagrants
Residents raise concerns about the condition of post office buildings in the area, which are allegedly home to vagrants.
Roodepoort — The closure of several South African Post Office branches in Region C has left behind several vacant buildings that have become havens for vagrants and crime hotspots.
Over the past few years, the post office has announced the permanent shutdown of many branches across the country because of financial distress and the declining demand for traditional postal services due to technological advancements.
Post Offices like Florida Hills, Maraisburg, Wilro Park, Honeydew, Ruimsig, and Strubens Valley are permanently shut down, with hundreds of workers unemployed.
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However, residents in these affected areas are growing increasingly concerned about the state of the resultant empty and abandoned buildings once occupied by the Post Office.
They claim that the buildings have become a magnet for vagrants and are notorious crime spots, with drug dealing happening in the open.
Fayroza Wadvalla from the Maraisburg Residents Association (MRA) says the lower Maraisburg area has become unsafe.
“The front of the Post Office building is now an illegal dumping spot,” she said.
The Roodepoort Record, alongside the MRA, viewed the building on April 12, and a group of men (believed to be vagrants) were spotted squatting in front of the Post Office located at the corner of Seventh Street and Albertina Sisulu Road.
“The situation has taken a turn for the worse. Vagrants have taken over the buildings, and open-air drug dealing has become a regular occurrence.
“We are worried about the impact this will have on the community, particularly on children and vulnerable individuals.”
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The Horison area is facing a similar situation with the post box near Swan Circle, with residents expressing concerns about the safety and security of the community.
Ward 85 councillor Zone Hughes said they would like to have the structure removed to make the area clean and safe again.
“We are not entirely sure when it was closed, but residents confirmed that in 2018, they still had people visit the offices to collect their mail.
“The major problem is that the broken open post boxes are being used for public drinking and drug areas by some youngsters. We also have a problem with illegal dumping taking place,” she said.
Hughes said that when they find vagrants taking shelter in the now-abandoned building, they always contact the Department of Social Development, which has always assisted in this regard.
The Record has reached out to the South African Post Office and Business Rescue for comment on future plans regarding these buildings. A response will be published once received.
