The No Service Priority Parcel thanks to SAPO

Can't complain about service for there are no service it seems. Not from the call centres (no answer anytime of the day) nor the actual transport/delivery side.

Bought Items from USA and got send via USPS Priority mail on 8 September 2018. Got to SA on 11 September 2018. Into and out of Customs on 12 Sept 2018 (Awesome). With a week + bargained for the parcel to get to PE it would have been in time for the birthday it was intended for. (21 Sept 2018)

And then any trace of service or priority vanished. The parcel was last scanned on 13 September 2018 as "in transit" to Port Elizabeth. and nothing further. Queries at the PE PO Hub indicate parcel still in JHB on 25 September 2018 - and not yet on its way to PE.

What can/must one do?? Drive from PE to JHB to pick the parcel up??? How difficult is it to send a (priority)parcel to its destination.

And don't use the excuse of having a huge backlog on sending parcels - how long is the backlog and why cant you get personnel to make work of it. Why then prevent new parcels of getting to its destination on time? Are we DOOMED till Kingdom come with this?