Businesses count the cost of poor service from metro

Small business owner Nosipho Sidina says the metro is failing to walk their talk.

Sidina, who runs a small business in Modder East that washes household rubbish bins, says the poor service delivery from the metro is frustrating and is threatening her livelihood.

“I started this business in August 2017 with my brother Simphiwe and we already have 80 clients.

“Since then, we have grown to employ eight additional employees, all of whom are youth,” says Sidina.

The erratic collection by the metro has hurt her business and her customers have been getting upset with them, with some not using her services anymore.

Also read:

Rubbish dump in Seventh Avenue angers residents

“I have been to the customer care centre twice to ask what is happening with the rubbish collection, only to be referred to the waste department.

“There I was told the trucks are broken,” says Sidina.

To keep the business going, Sidina has resorted to hiring a van from a local man to collect the rubbish bins from her customers’ houses to the dumping site in Dersley, before washing the bins.

This she says is unsustainable and unfair.

“People pay their rates and taxes every month, but they don’t get the services the pay for.

Also read:

Metro fails to collect rubbish in the CBD

“On top of that, the metro is always talking about how they support small businesses, youth empowerment and job creation, but they are the same people who are threatening my business.

“I have started a petition in my area that I want to hand over the metro expressing our dissatisfaction and demanding proper service delivery from the metro.

“The petition already has 271 signatures, but I really just want the metro to play their part,” says Sidina.

The metro failed to respond in time for publication.

Follow us on our social media platforms: