Post Office clowns

Do we still have a Post Office? If so, what are they doing? When last have you used the Post Office’s postal service, or been inside a post office building?

I’m old enough to remember when the Post Office was still a functioning, well-managed, dependable organisation. You could send a letter, telegram, or a parcel, and have an excellent chance of it actually reaching its intended destination. But, no more; those days are gone forever.

I’ve had a Post Box for as long as I can remember. The cost of renting a Post Box comes to R380.00 per year. Not only is it supposed to cut out junk mail, but it also ensures that your physical address remains private.

All my monthly invoices, correspondence, communication, etc, are done electronically. I haven’t seen the inside of a post office for decades.

I am quite aware that the Post Office is in dire straits, stuffed up, moertoe, badly managed, and with employees who are constantly on strike – no one even notices the strikes anymore. But I have decided to keep my Post Box, by force of habit, more than anything else.

Now here’s the thing: This morning I received the following SMS:

Dear renter, formal reminder to renew your Box or Bag at any Post Office or on www.virtualpostoffice.co.za Reply “NO” if you do not have a Box. SA Post Office.

Now, I don’t know if I’m going penile in my old age, but this message makes no sense at all.

First, they call me a “renter” – and remind me to renew my Box or Bag. Then I’m ordered to reply “NO,” if I do not have a Box, but nothing is said about the Bag. Very confusing, indeed!

But, on second thoughts, maybe the Post Orifice is just being run like the rest of the country. Into the ground. By clowns.