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Matieland Post Office reverses decision to discontinue Covid-19 grants

The Matieland Post Office in the Neelsie Centre started paying out R350 Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grants once again on 26 October. 

This came after the EFF Western Cape raised the concern that SDR grant recipients were turned away at the only operational post office in Stellenbosch. 

According to Wandile Kasibe, spokesperson for the EFF in the Western Cape, this resulted in local grant recipients incurring unnecessary, additional travel expenses to rather receive grants at post offices in areas like Somerset West and Paarl.

Disbursements of the SDR grants by the Matieland Post Office, situated on Stellenbosch University’s (SU) campus, will continue until the opening of the new main branch in town, said Martin Viljoen, spokesperson for SU. 

The decision to reinstate SRD grant payments came after becoming aware that, in addition to Stellenbosch’s main Post Office branch being closed, the Die Boord branch was closed too. 

Stellenbosch’s only operating Post Office

The Die Boord branch closed on 12 September, meaning Matieland Post Office was the only local branch in operation. However, according to Viljoen, the Neelsie’s management was unaware that Die Boord closed.

“The Post Office in Die Boord closed because the property owner terminated the rental contract,” said Johan Kruger, South African Post Offices spokesperson.

Grant recipients who usually receive their grants at Die Boord now went to the Matieland Post Office on SU’s premises, Kruger explained.

The Post Office’s main branch in Stellenbosch has been closed for “several months because it has to move to a new site,” on the corner of Bird and Merriman Streets, said Viljoen.

According to Kruger, the new branch will open on 1 December and will be more suitable for a large number of customers.

Johan Kruger, South African Post Offices spokesperson shares his view on the effectiveness of the EFF drawing attention the Matieland post office discontinuing the R350 payments of Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grants.

EFF involvement

Kasibe told MatieMedia that the issue was raised on 13 October by EFFrepresentative councilor Derrick Hendrikse. 

Following this, the EFF Western Cape published a statement on 22 October condemning the decision taken by the Post Office and Neelsie Centre management to discontinue payment of the SRD grants.

“This decision was unjust, unfair and meant people would be forced to travel to faraway places and subjected to spend more money to get that essential service,” said Kasibe.

Upon becoming aware of difficulties experienced by those less fortunate who qualify for the SDR grant, SU commenced discussions with the Post Office to once again start with the payments at the Matieland branch, said Viljoen.

“When I could not get the grant [at the Matieland post office branch], I went to Somerset West,” said Akhona Charlie, Social Relief Distress grant recipient. Charlie stands outside the Matieland post office on 30 October. PHOTO: Danny-B Smith

Discontinuation decision and post office payment problems

According to Viljoen, the initial decision to discontinue SRD grant payments at the Matieland branch was confirmed by the regional manager of the Post Office. 

This followed from discussions between the Neelsie Management and the Post Office’s Matieland branch, and between SU and the regional manager of the Post Office, said Viljoen.

The initial disbursements posed significant risks to the Neelsie including access control, security, adequate facilities and social distancing protocols, said Viljoen.

The Post Office was “unable to handle the volume of people who arrived for the SRD” and experienced frequent cash shortages, he added.

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