Postal delivery in Welkom is done within a radius of 10 km on foot. Areas further than 10 km are not serviced due to a lack of vehicles, bicycles and motorcycles.
The Welkom Main Post Office and the services that are supposed to be rendered there have been described as an abysmal failure.
This centre, which acts as a central contact point for all post offices in surrounding towns, is crumbling.
“This terrible failure can be attributed to the sheer lack of foresight in acquiring the elementary tools of the trade that are crucial for anything remotely resembling efficient postal deliveries,” says René Steyn, Matjhabeng councillor.
“The minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mondli Gungubele, unapologetically admitted these failings of the post office in Welkom.”
Steyn says 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.”
In addition to this, she says 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,” says Steyn.
