Page 67 - Bulletin 9 2005

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Fish Hoek. In 1937 a night collection from Simon’s Town was included in this schedule,
but day collections from Simon’s Town to the GPO Cape Town continued to rely on the

train.

The Cape Times: 6 August, 1928

MUIZENBERG AND KALK BAY AFFAIRS
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New Postal Arrangements
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(From Our Correspondent.)
KALK BAY, August 3.
For some considerable time the week-end postal arrangements in the Southern suburbs,
beyond Wynberg, have been felt to be unsatisfactory and most inconvenient. A letter
posted, say, at Kalk Bay or Muizenberg after noon on Saturday was not dispatched until
some time on Monday morning.

With the object of improving this state of affairs, a deputation from the Kalk Bay and
Muizenberg Ratepayers’ Association waited upon Mr. O’Kelly, the Divisional Controller
of Posts and Telegraphs, and were most sympathetically received. After listening to the
deputation’s representation, Mr O’Kelly promised to give the points put forward his
careful consideration.

It is now stated that a clearance of all mail matter is to be made at Kalk Bay and all
intermediate stations between there and Wynberg on Sunday afternoons. The clearance
will be made by motor car and the new arrangement will be brought into operation as soon
as the necessary boxes arrive. It is expected these boxes, which will be of a special design,
will be installed at, or near, the respective railway stations.

By 1939 post all post boxes, some 250 in total, were cleared four times a day, at 11.30 am,
3.15 pm, 5 pm, and 12.05 am. Having completed the first collection vans would arrive

back at the GPO until 12.25 pm and thus be ready to take the afternoon deliveries out to
the suburbs. Drivers averaged about 100 km per day.

Letter boxes and their designs

The efficient collection of the mails necessitated the installation of letter boxes at central
locations. The letter box types and designs used locally came from Britain, where roadside