The permanent closure of the Gordon’s Bay Post Office (opened in this building in 1939) is not only a loss of vital postal services to the area, but signifies an end to a postal service with a rich history.
Professor Harold Herman, local historian from Somerset West spoke to Bolander about not only the loss to a cultural historic aspect of the area but also the inconvenient practicalities brought on by this closure.
“It’s a huge loss particularly for the indigent community because the post office was the place where they could get the service, they need at grassroots level such as South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grants or the handing in of documents, and then of cause the postal delivery service for post and for packages.
“It was a vital service for the local community, and it now means that the people of Gordon’s Bay now need to travel to access these services, particularly for those who don’t have transport and who are indigent it’s a huge loss for them because they now must spend money on travelling to a nearby post office to post a letter or to collect a package.
“So, the richer people can use Postnet, but the indigent people cannot do that and it’s the poor that’s going to be affected by this. For the poorer citizens, the people on social grants; it’s a great loss for them and there seems to be no alternative arrangement being proposed,” he adds.
The closure of the Gordon’s Bay Post Office forms part of the closures of post office branches as detailed in the business rescue plan detailed on www.postoffice.co.za.
Bolander enquired from Louise Brugman, who handles communications on behalf of Sapo Business Rescue Practitioners to find out more on which factors were taken in consideration and motivated the closure of the Gordon’s Bay Post Office, the reallocation or transfer of the Gordon’s Bay postal services, whether any other post offices in the Helderberg basin can in future expect to be affected by the closures and on whether Sapo owned or rented the building in Beach Road from which the Post Office was operated from.
In a response, Ms Brugman says the Gordon’s Bay Post Office been closed as part of the South African Post Office (SAPO) branches set to be closed nationwide as part of the Business Rescue Plan.
In response to reasons for the closure she says: “A number of branches were chosen to be closed as per the Business Rescue Plan.”
She adds that all postal services were moved to the Strand Post Office. “Strand PO will keep trading as part of the 657 branches to be retained. There is also sufficient parking at the Strand for customers,” she says.
As to in relation to the ownership of the premises from which the post office operated, her response says that Sapo rented the premises from Telkom and that the lease ended with the closure of the post office at the end of April.
Professor Herman, who also serves as the Chairperson of the Coachman’s Cottage Museum and was one of the founder members of the Helderberg Renaissance Foundation in 2007, is all for the preservation of the building where the post office was located. The Post Office was included in the National Register of Conservation-worthy Properties in the 1990’s.
Although the museum did not stock any artefact dating back to the history of the Gordon’s Bay postal services, it’s cultural and heritage value in the historical community cannot be undervalued and the building’s preservation must be prioritised, he says.
“I think it is important because we must preserve our heritage for future generations, particularly with the advent of modern forms of construction and cheaper forms of construction to maximise profits and space.
“I taught in America and its amazing to see how the heritage buildings are totally neglected and destroyed in most parts of the states, except for in places like Washington DC,” he adds,
Although Bolander could not yet ascertain from Telkom what the alternative future use of the building will be, Professor Herman offered suggestions on the utilisation of the building going forward.
“I think they must look for something important that is required for Gordon’s Bay, for example a museum, they haven’t got a museum or one or other NPO which is necessary for the area that can be housed in the building, but the building itself cannot be changed.”
After the South African Post Office (Sapo) officially closed and ended operations at the Gordon’s Bay Post Office at the end of April, when Bolander visited the site since operations closed the vacant property showed signs of vagrants living there, with one asleep on the stoep. Bedding, clothes, and other signs indicative of squatters living on the property could also be seen on the sides of the building as well as in the yard of the property.
After Sapo informed Bolander of their tenancy with Telkom, Bolander followed up with Telkom on the issue of illegal squatting on the property, and how they plan to safeguard and secure the premises until plans for the alternative use of the property are finalised and what those plans are. No response was received at the time of going to print, but will be made public once received.
Additional resources: www.postoffice.co.za/BusinessRescue/busreport211dec23.pdf
