Post Office owes consumers R180-million

MAILBOX users in South-Africa demand compensation from the Post Office for the lack of service delivery during the recent three month strike.

This is according to a statement released by civil rights organisation AfriForum.

“In 2014 mailbox users paid for 12 months’ service delivery but only received service delivery for nine months. The total standstill in service delivery cost consumers R76- million,” said Tiaan Esterhuizen, AfriForum’s manager of community structures.

“AfriForum placed the Post Office on terms to reimburse all mailbox users for the period in which services were not delivered. If mailbox users are not reimbursed, AfriForum will consider legal action.

“This is yet another example of the government failing to adhere to their responsibilities and the economy is suffering because of it,” Esterhuizen added.

The Consumer Protection Act stipulates that consumers are entitled to:

• The timely execution and completion of services.
• The execution of services in a manner and on a standard that is generally accepted.
• Reasonable reimbursement if any services are not executed as agreed.

AfriForum has  received many complaints from unhappy consumers. Important documentation and packages never reached their destinations and magazine and newspaper subscriptions were cancelled due to the fact that postal services are no longer reliable.

AfriForum urges consumers to add their names to the complaint. Send your information to tiaan@afriforum.co.za or SMS ‘POST’ followed by your name to 32688 (smses cost R1).