Post office in appalling state
Run-down branch and staff shortage anger customers
LACK of maintenance of the building and a staff shortage at the main post office in Chatsworth is upsetting customers who complain that they have to wait for a long time in lengthy queues for service.
The post office is one of the biggest in the area and services the greater Chatsworth communities, including Kharwastan, Shallcross, Umhlatuzana and Welbedacht.
Local residents say the post office building and its grounds are run down and a shortage of staff causes long queues at the counters.
Lack of maintenance of the air-conditioning system has left customers hot under the collar, they say.
The area surrounding the post office is in a state of neglect with overgrown grass and weeds, they say. Litter is strewn about and a boundary wall has collapsed.
Another concern customers have raised is the inadequate parking area. Some say they have turned away and gone to other post offices because of the lack of parking.
When the City Watch team visited the Chatsworth post office in Westcliff, on Thursday, customers were standing in long queues. It was established that the air conditioner was not working.
Of the 10 teller windows at the counters, only four were open for customers requiring normal postal services, motor vehicle licence renewals, parcel collections and document certification. Sapra Ramiah, who was among those waiting in the queues, criticised the poor service at the branch.
“There are many of us using this branch and the shortage of staff is a serious problem here,” Ramiah said.
“Some elderly people have been standing in the heat for a long time waiting to be served.
“The building from the outside looks unkempt and as if not in use,” she said.
Jayesh Pillay questioned why the branch had insufficient parking.
“There’s plenty of free space which should have been used to extend parking.
“There are no tellers dedicated to licensing renewals like at other post offices. We have been tolerating this poor service for too long. They should do something to remedy the situation,” Pillay said.
Disappointed customer Latha Singh said: “Unfortunately, we have no choice, but to visit this institution.
“I, like others, dread coming here. How are staff and customers expected to function without an air-conditioning system?
“I did notice an air cooler near the entrance, but because of the size of this post office, customers are not able to feel its effect.
“To all the officials concerned, please take cognisance of the complaints and do something urgently,” she said.
Post Office spokesperson Nobuhle Njapha said the post office was a non-profit entity and used limited resources optimally.
She said employees from the Chatsworth branch would mow lawns and trim trees from this month.
“It is worth pointing out that the maintenance is done by post office volunteers.
“Regarding the shortage of staff, local management is allocating employees to the busiest areas, using information about transaction volumes and waiting times.
“We have also noted large increases in the number of customers doing car licence renewals and receiving international items.
“The procedure to have the air conditioner repaired has been set in motion.
“The Chatsworth post office branch has limited parking. Unfortunately, there is no space for creating additional parking,” Njapha said.
The post office was not in a position to appoint more employees, she said.