Question NW579 to the Minister of Communications
09 March 2021 - NW579
Brink, Mr C to ask the Minister of Communications
Whether she has been informed that the Post Office in Highveld Park, Centurion, was closed during business hours for a number of days in November 2020; if not, why not; if so, what (a) were the reasons for the closure and (b) steps will she take to ensure that the unnecessary closures do not recur?
Reply:
No, I was not aware of the closure of the aforementioned Post Office branch as SAPO did not provide such information to the Department.
I have since been informed by the SAPO as follows:
a) The Highveld Park Post Office, Centurion branch was locked by the landlord on 13 November 2020. The reason for the closure is due to non-payment of rent as the landlord decided to lock the branch until payment is made.
b) SAPO is currently paying a rental amount of more than R 50 000 per month at the Highveld Post Office and as such an alternative site nearby (Eco Park Centre) +/- 2 km away has been secured, at a negotiated rental amount of R 8 000 per month for the next 3 years. SAPO intends to move the Post Office to that site around March 2021. Preparations are at an advanced stage and business will resume soon for all the customers in and around Highveld Park.
MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES