Fish Hoek Post Office, a place that usually bustles with activity on Main Road, was eerily empty and quiet last week, days after an armed robbery incident on Monday 3 July.
On Thursday 6 July, the doors remained firmly shut with a notice advising customers to collect their South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) payments at the Grassy Park Post Office or Retreat.
“Due to a robbery incident, we cannot operate for business until further notice,” the notice read.
Fish Hoek Police Station spokesperson WO Peter Middleton confirmed the robbery, saying five suspects stole an unknown amount of cash. It was the second robbery at the premises in two years he added.
Meanwhile, an employee of a business on Main Road says they always need to be vigilant due to the robberies in the area.
“I knew Fish Hoek to be the place where you could come and relax and walk around, but as time went on the place changed. This is not the Fish Hoek I know and remember. So many things have changed around here.”
The employee, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation, says customers prefer cashless transactions and they leave their cash and cellphones at home.
“There are quite a few customers who come in and say they prefer not to withdraw cash because it’s not safe anymore. Some also prefer to leave their phones at home.”
He adds that everyone needs to be vigilant.
“Earlier in the year, a business was robbed and staff lost their phones. Further down the road, a customer was also robbed. It is things like that, that make you feel you can’t walk around anymore and that you must always be vigilant, whatever you do.
“I always need to be on my toes. You never expect things like that to happen on Main Road, as it is a busy road but as an employee who works in a shop on Main Road, I have to be vigilant.”
Another worker in Fish Hoek said the robbery occurred around 16:00, which was a busy time of the day.
“The Main Road is very busy with people and motorists around 16:00, yet the armed men still chose that time during the day, not caring how many people would be around,” he said.
