Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr René Steyn and Sesotho by Jafta Mokoena MPL.
The Welkom Main Post Office, which acts as a central contact point for all post offices in surrounding towns, is crumbling under the ANC-led governments’ incompetence. Unable to perform its most basic duties. This abysmal failure can be attributed to the sheer lack of foresight in acquiring the elementary tools of the trade – vehicles, bicycles, or motorcycles that are crucial for anything remotely resembling efficient postal deliveries.
In a recent bout of truth-telling, instigated by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Parliament, the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mondli Gungubele, unapologetically admitted that “Postal delivery in Welkom is done within a radius of 10km on foot. Areas further than 10km are not serviced due to a lack of vehicles, bicycles and motorcycles.”
Therefore communities must rely on postal delivery in Welkom surmounting to a mere 10-kilometer radius, where postal workers trudge on foot. Anything beyond this laughable limit is simply left to fend for itself, thanks to our ANC-led Government’s astonishing ineptitude in securing the most basic means of transportation.
This situation is posing a substantial challenge to local businesses that still rely on postal services. Without adequate transportation infrastructure, businesses are finding it increasingly difficult to rely on the Post Office for their postal needs, which impacts their operations and customer service.
Furthermore, the Welkom Post Office has encountered ongoing technical issues that further hinder its ability to provide essential services. The motor vehicle disc machine, which plays a crucial role in vehicle licensing and registration, is once again out of order. This issue comes on the heels of earlier problems this year, including shortages of toner and paper, which should have been supplied by the provincial department of Police, Roads, and Transport.
This situation imposes insurmountable burdens on local businesses and the community at large. The need for urgent, practical solutions to salvage any semblance of efficient postal services in the region is undeniable. The Post Office’s inability to meet even the most modest expectations is nothing short of a scandal and demands immediate, aggressive action.