Rental dispute shuts Bay Post Office branch
A RENTAL dispute has again led to the closure of the Post Office branch in the Richards Bay CBD, and it remains unclear as to when it will reopen.
The branch has been closed for more than three weeks, with residents encouraged to utilise other branches until the dispute is settled.
Post Office spokesperson Johan Kruger told the ZO on Monday that they are engaging the landlord to ensure continuity of postal services.
"All new mail, as from 8 September, can be collected from the Meerensee Post Office.
"The Post Office is negotiating with the owner of Richards Bay Post Office to grant them access to move the customer items in the branch to Meerensee," said Kruger.
While the CBD branch is the only local one that has been offering car licence disc renewal, Kruger said motorists will have to access this service at the municipal traffic department or online until the branch is reopened.
He said they have, however, applied for the installation of a licence renewal terminal at the Meerensee branch and are awaiting approval from the Department of Transport.
"Customers should remember that they can also renew their car licences online at www.sapomvl.co.za
"There is no extra charge if customers collect the licence from a post office branch, and a charge of R75 if the new
licence is delivered to their door," said Kruger.
This is not the first time the CBD branch has been forced to close owing to rent issues. Last year, landlords disconnected electricity at both the CBD and eSikhaleni branches.
It was alleged at the time that the Post Office owed more than R900 000 in rental,
electricity and services at the branches.
Earlier this year, the DA's Solly Malatsi expressed concern over the dire financial state of the South African Post Office (SAPO), saying it continues to 'inflict massive inconvenience to millions of citizens who rely on it to access their private mail, social grants and transfer parcels'.
"The latest annual report of SAPO shows it suffered a loss of R2.3-billion for the 2020/21 financial year, which marked an increase of R469-million compared to the previous financial year.
"Its revenue for the same period declined by R1.2-billion, symbolising the public’s increasing vote of no confidence in doing business with the Post Office," he said.