Triple C Customer, Kempton Park writes:
As more services and facilities in South Africa as a whole, and in Ekuhurleni in particular, have opened up these past few months, more and more residents have gone to the (as it is often called) “Triple C” (Customer Care Centre) in Kempton Park.
Their reasons are numerous and varied and include renewing vehicle licences, obtaining statements of account rates/water/electricity usage, and paying or disputing such accounts, to name three.
We are all aware of the “social distancing” requirement, whether for shops, offices, filling stations, pharmacies, the Post Office, or wherever, and that many premises have a limit on how many people can be within their premises at any one time.
The “Triple C” is no different in this regard.
We know and understand this, and now accept queuing as another “new normal” in our lives.
It is therefore not at all unusual to see lengthy queues on the concourse outside the “Triple C” entrance.
However and surely, by now, the municipality has had sufficient time to put some minor things in place to assist the general public.
One has to wonder why, outside the now-only entrance door, where there seem to be three distinct queues (each headed with a table), no one seems to have thought to erect a large (even hand-made) sign at the head of each queue.
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Such would clearly identify which queue is for what purpose(s). Instead, some residents join a queue, knowing no differently, and then find themselves not where they want and need to be and then move, usually then to the back of another queue.
Also, to my way of thinking, putting “No Cash Accepted” or “Debit/Credit Cards Only” notices, although commendable, right by the entrance door again doesn’t help many residents.
Surely some at the foot of the stairs leading up to the CCC, and even at the top of the stairs/concourse (from where such notices still cannot be read) would be a good idea?
For many of us, myself included, queuing outside for up to an hour before gaining admittance (as happened on one occasion) on a cold, blustery winter’s day is no fun.
We don’t need any municipality spokesperson to tell us we should instead pay our accounts online or via cellphone banking.
Not everyone has the facility (or ability) to be able to do that, and querying an account is probably done best face to face, in any event.
I am sure many residents have literally caught a cold whilst standing outside during these cold-weather spells and we have to think of summer approaching, with its summer rainfall.
Should this lockdown at whatever level still be with us when the rains come many residents are going to get wet, catch a chill, and become more vulnerable to the coronavirus.
A vicious circle then re-starts.
Surely it is not beyond the means of the EMM to think not only of its employees and their safety when dealing with the general public, but to also think of the general public itself – the EMM’s salary payers.
Editor’s comment – The Express sent a request for comment to City of Ekurhuleni on July 29, requesting comment by July 31 at 9am.
At the time of publishing, no comment had been received.
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