Elderly Post Bank users sleep outside Post Office
Post Bank users have resorted to sleeping outside a Post Office to not lose their place in a queue when cash eventually arrives at the branch.
Criminal activity in two Post Offices in the Eastern Cape have left some residents who bank with Post Bank with no means to access their money.
DESPERATE TIMES
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According to the SABC, the elderly trying to withdraw their SASSA grants as well as extended public works program employees (EPWP) have endured sleeping outside in a queue for days.
Their extreme efforts to gain access to their money, is as a result of not being paid out for two months as the Bizana Post Office is out of cash.
A local councillor Bubele Mangqalaza says the Post Office works are not safe and are not able to keep large quantities of cash in their safe as it is unsafe.
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“Post office was broken into, the safes were broken into, walls were broken, doors could not lock even the ceiling was broken” says Mangqalaza.
The SA Post Office in the Eastern Cape has also reiterated Mangqalaza statement regarding criminal activity being behind the payment delays.
CRIME PLAGUES POST OFFICE
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Robbery at Rebout Post Post has resulted in its temporary closure, resulting in an influx of people to the Bizana office.
The branch is also affected by staff shortages after three female tellers were gunned down earlier this year.
Bongeka Nogoda, Luleka Mpambani, and Yamkela Zimase were killed soon after leaving work while travelling in a Ford Ranger.
The Post Office has since said it expects a cash delivery on Monday.
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