WEDNESDAY, 4.00PM:
THE Post Office — long the subject of public distrust for lost and stolen mail — has moved to clean up its act, sacking 170 workers for mail theft and fraud, it was announced on Wednesday.
Managing director Frank Touwen said his office has launched an aggressive drive to root out crime in the post office, starting with an anti-crime awareness campaign, called “Open the mail, go to jail.” He said several surveillance cameras have been installed in mail sorting centres to detect criminals, and a toll-free hotline has been established. The public and postal workers can call 0800-033-554 to report postal crimes. Touwen said all the Post office trade unions fully support the campaign.
“Nearly 90 percent of national mail is now being delivered on time, with the balance one or two days later. Less than two percent of mail does not reach its destination, mainly owing to incorrect addressing,” Touwen said.