SA Post Office are useless

I purchased a book online as SA does not carry the technical book. The bookstore in the UK shipped this on normal shipping, although I had paid additional fees for shipping. Nonetheless, the book arrived at the SA post office on the 19 August 2021. I only received the notification to collect on the 5th of November 2021. I went in with ID and the slip, having waited over an hour and 20 min as I was not drawing money, or renewing my license! I reach the counter and the lady says its sent back. I asked her to double check. She arrives back at the counter where I noticed my details and saw that the parcel was still at the post office. Being a Saturday there were only 2 staff members working. Her colleague who wreaked of alcohol remarked tell me its gone as he isn't in the mood to go look for it.

The lady then reverts to me saying "ahh you came too late as it is now November, we can't help you" I then informed her that the piece of paper was only put in my box by the postman on the 5th. She then says its not the post offices problem. Whose problem is it then? Is the postman not in the employ of the post office? And now I am left with a book that is difficult to find that's here but I can't get it. Service Delivery is a dream! I have emailed the SA Post Office after spending an hour on hold on their 0860 number. I have not received any feedback