Business forum works for better Primrose
“We began presenting our ideas to local company owners, and they were immediately enthralled. Although it took some effort to persuade some of them, we now have a solid recipe.”
The goal of the Primrose Business Forum remains to improve Primrose for its residents and businesses.
Although the forum is less than two years old, the people in and around Primrose have already come to love it because they can see the work it has done, thanks to the leadership of Ackermans Pharmacy on Reitfontein Road.
Johan van Wyk of Ackermans Pharmacy said they used to clean the streets surrounding their building from the start.
“As the objective became clearer, we were unwilling to move our business elsewhere because it was clear the challenges needed addressing.
“Since this area is a business district, we also wanted to preserve the local companies in operation and continue doing business within the community.
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“We began presenting our ideas to local company owners, and they were immediately enthralled. Although it took some effort to persuade some of them, we now have a solid recipe.
“Ten new people signed up, and the forum is getting bigger. The objective is to safeguard our local investments while maintaining and enhancing our infrastructure. The companies give what they can, starting at R100 monthly.
“Ten of us patrol Rietfontein Road, Fishers Hill, and Primrose, picking up trash, debris, and weeds. We also mow and clean the grass in the park across from Primrose Primary School.
“One problem is that many apartments and small businesses don’t have wheelie bins, so they dump their rubbish on the sidewalks. The wind scatters the debris. We advise locals to obtain appropriate bins to use.
“What we are doing is not unique; comparable forums and community organisations are beginning to donate to improve their neighbourhoods. Slowly, the community is making contact.
“As businesses, we are getting to know one another as entrepreneurs. We have engaged with the leaders of the informal settlement to broaden our reach. The plan is to begin cleaning up the area from Pretoria Road to the side of the Wannenburg Clinic.
“The forum has made it possible for the participating businesses to form a central network where they can grow and share business ideas.
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“We enjoy positive working ties with the waste health inspectors from the CoE. We now understand their strengths and limitations.
“Because our portfolios as the forum are not the same, we have, alongside Roadlab, repainted a few buildings, renewed road markings, and cleared some blockages in drainage systems. We have also repaired major potholes,” said Van Wyk.
Looking back, Ackermans Pharmacy won the Pharmacy of the Year competition for 2023. The award’s timing was perfect, given that the business had just celebrated its 75th anniversary.
All independently-owned pharmacies in SA were eligible to enter the competition, which the Solidarity Pharmacy Network ran. Client votes and in-person reviews decided the competition.
It is an award Van Wyk believes had alluded him for the past 20 years. He claimed that receiving the honour had always been his dream and that the Primrose community had made it possible.
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“In the future, we hope to see more companies join the forum, maintain the cleanliness of the larger Primrose area, upgrade the infrastructure, and help create a more positive community. The broken window theory emphasises how more at ease criminals are in unclean environments.
“We currently fund two soup kitchens: one in Primrose East and one in the park across from Primrose Primary School on Wednesdays, hosted by a pastor.
“Silvasons Hardware continues to be active with Burning Stars FC. Most recently, we helped them obtain the ID cards required to compete in their respective league,” said Van Wyk.
