No Post Office employee or other individuals have the right to ask beneficiaries to pay any fee to be serviced and/or to receive preferential treatment by jumping a queue, says Sapo spokesperson.
THE SOUTH African Post Office (Sapo) has warned the public not to pay for a place in the queue.
This comes after Sapo was made aware of instances where self-appointed queue marshals ask customers who visit their branches for a fee for a place in the front of the queue.
Sapo spokesperson Nobuhle Njapha said such practices are illegal.
No Sapo employee or other individuals have the right to ask beneficiaries to pay any fee to be serviced and/or to receive preferential treatment by jumping a queue, she said.
“Customers are advised not to pay the fee demanded by any Sapo employee, queue marshals or any other person requesting such a payment and should consider laying a charge of bribery and corruption at their nearest police station.
“There is close co-operation between the Post Office’s Security and Investigations Unit and the SA Police Service and formal charges will help put a stop to this opportunistic and unethical behaviour,” said Njapha.
Njapha added that the Post Office does not have jurisdiction over the behaviour of members of the public outside Post Office property.
“Anybody who becomes aware of postal crime, or a crime apparently committed by an employee of the SA Post Office should report it to the Post Office’s toll-free crime-buster hotline on 0800 020 070.”
She advised that the caller would have the option of remaining anonymous and that all calls are followed up.
In addition, Njapha said customers of the Post Office are also requested to strictly observe the measures announced to curb the spread of Covid-19, such as the wearing of masks, sanitising and physical distancing. These measures are enforced on Post Office property.
She added that, “Recipients of the R350 Covid-19 relief grant do not have to visit their local post office every month. They can choose to have their grant paid into a Postbank account, and use their Postbank card to access the grant. Speak to your local post office branch if you would like to arrange this.”
