LOUIS TRICHARDT - "The service at the Post Office is getting worse," complained an exasperated Ms Suraiya Noor-Mohammed when she once again failed to receive her parcel of perishables in time and in good condition.

Ms Noor-Mohammed said this week that her problem with the Post Office had been an ongoing one for the past two years and that she had spoken to the Postmaster on numerous occasions. Last week, however, she finally reached the end of her tether.

"I order a parcel of perishables from Durban every two weeks and every time I have to fight for my parcel, go to the post office a couple of times and make numerous short and long distance calls.

"Last week my parcel departed from Durban on September 9. On Wednesday (11th) I checked my post box in vain for a slip, because every time I am told at the counter 'No slip, no parcel.' On Thursday (12th) I met the postmaster in town and once again discussed my ongoing problem with him. When I asked for my parcel the gentleman at the counter rudely gave me his favourite reply, 'If there is no slip, it means there is no parcel.' When I asked him to go and check if my parcel is not lying around, he replied that he was not going to do a double job and said 'No slip, no parcel. You can go.' I did as I was told and left."

On Friday (13th) when Ms Noor-Mohammed phoned the post office she spoke to a lady named Anna. Anna told her that her parcel has been lying for many days and asked why she hasn't picked it up?

When the unfortunate customer finally received her parcel the contents were already rotten. When she asked the postmaster who was going to compensate her for her loss, he offered her his apology.

"I asked him how many times more was he going to offer an apology before something was going to change," said Ms Noor-Mohammed in a desperate tone of voice.

The slip for the parcel was never found. The explanation that was given to her was that her slip was the same yellow colour as the invitation cards for learning Venda that was put in all the post boxes. Apparently a strong wind blew them all from the post boxes so that they fell to the inside, from where they were collected and thrown away.

According to Ms Noor-Mohammed, the spokesperson of the customer service of the Speed Services Couriers of the Post Office, said that it was not necessary to present a slip in order to receive your parcel, only a tracking number.

"When I tried giving them the tracking number, they told me that my parcel was lying in Pietersburg."

Ms Noor-Mohammed said that she had tried all channels. She had spoken to the area manager of the Northern Province who offered an apology but never came back to her. Now she has decided to take her story to the media.

When the Postmaster, Mr Elliott Khoza, was asked whether he was aware of Ms Noor-Mohammed's problem he replied that he was not aware of it. He also added that he was not allowed to speak to the press but did, however, say that he felt that he was very effective in solving customers' problems.

In the meantime other complaints reached the media concerning rude and inefficient service given especially to messengers sent by businesses to the Post Office.