Doors of Laudium Post Office closed as no cheque in the post…

The Laudium Post Office, which has over the years been making headlines for the wrong reasons, especially for poor services rendered to the community, is once again in the news.
In the latest of gripes, but certainly of a different and unexpected kind, the Laudium Sun received a number of complaints from local residents concerning the Post Office doors being closed this week. The reason for the closure had nothing to do with a staff member contracting Covid19 and thus the premises being sanitised, as has been the norm over the past months, in any place to which the public has access. Shockingly, the reason for the closure of our Post Office, whose service so many residents depend on, especially pensioners, for their monthly grant payments, is the failure by the Head Office of the Post Office, to pay its monthly rental as per the lease agreement. What is more surprising is that the Post Office has been in arrears for months with its rentals and despite several warnings to pay up or face closure, the Post Office chose to ignore the warnings at the risk of residents losing out on vital services, including the renewing of vehicle licences.
The Laudium Sun spoke to Joe Suliman, the landlord of the property on Tangerine Street in the Laudium CBD. “We have been very lenient with the Post Office for many months now, knowing that there are people who need the services of the Laudium Post Office as they are unable to travel to other Post Offices for various reasons. We know that most pensioners in the area use the Post Office to collect their monthly SASSA grants and others collect other grants including now the Covid19 unemployment grant. But, what are we to do? The Post Office ignored our appeals to pay rentals outstanding for months. They do not even respond to our letters indicating when we should expect payment. I have personally attempted to get hold of the person in charge of our account, with the aim of trying to reach a settlement, but to no avail. So, we had no other choice but to have their doors closed and to give notice to evict.
The Laudium Sun also spoke to local Post Office manager, Russel Ernest, who said, “I have spoken to our division about the current situation that we are in right now. But, myself as manager, I am unable to say or do anything until the owner of the property and our property division make contact. From my side, I apologise for the inconvenience caused to our community, but I am trying my best to see what can be done to resolve this issue, given that it does not fall within my jurisdiction.”
An official at the Head Office of the Post Office, told the Laudium Sun that they were busy negotiating a settlement with the landlord and have meanwhile urged residents to use the neighbouring post offices in Atteridgeville, Lotus Gardens and other areas.
Comments from locals
Iqbal Ebrahim of Taj Street, said, “The people of the Laudium Post Office, are very rude. It is good that they have closed. I hope they close it forever, as every time when you go there, it is either they are on lunch or they have been robbed. There is no proper service at the post office.”
Rafik Noormohamed, from Pendant Street, said, “The government has a lot of money, how come they could not pay rent, they ate the money or what? As a pensioner, where I’m going to get my money. I can’t go to Atteridgeville as I’m old and I can’t walk well. What is the problem with these people, there is always something they can’t get right?”
Zimbabwean national, Munashe Rera, from Itereleng, said, “I came here to the Post Office to sort out my Post Office card, as I use it for banking services, but now they are closed, because they can’t even pay rent. I hope they don’t chow my money.”
Zaahid Shaikh, from Bengal Street, said, “I came here to collect a parcel, I’m very disappointed that I have to walk this far for nothing. Why didn’t they notify us via SMS that this branch is closed?”
*As usual the local branches of political parties are silent on matters which are of a great concern to the community. It is mostly only during election time that they surface from the woodworks.