A glimpse into the life of a cashier on the frontline
"I encourage the community to practice patience in these difficult times and to always be kind."
“I have a duty to do. I believe with positivity, we can overcome this together as a country. This virus shall pass.”
This is the belief of Nelisiwe Sithole, who has been a cashier for the past 10 years. Sithole told the Newcastle Advertiser how she and her fellow employees were feeling about the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent national lockdown.
“We are all scared but we know that without these essential services, people will not be able to provide for their families. We emphasise being friendly and sharing our smiles with the customers who also afraid. We reassure them everything will be okay, if we all follow the rules and regulations issued by the South African Government.”
With local food markets abuzz with residents gathering items to fill their trolleys, Sithole explained management has taken precautions to ensure the safety of every single employee. Part of this is achieved by supplying cashiers with new masks, gloves and an abundant amount of hand sanitiser every day, plus the frequent cleaning of surfaces and social distancing.
“Our management sat us down and informed us of the dangers of Covid-19. It put my mind at ease, knowing the steps we have to take to keep ourselves safe. I also used the opportunity to share the new knowledge I learned with family and friends. I believe that knowledge is power and the more we know, the safer we are,” added Sithole.
New to the facility are glass palisades placed at the tills, providing a protective barrier between the cashier and customers.
Not allowing the gloom of the virus to dampen her spirits, Sithole added she made sure to still strike up conversation with each customer who passes her till, and to ask them how they were and wish them well.
“If we work together in an appropriate manner, everything else will move smoothly. I encourage the community to practice patience in these difficult times and to always be kind.”
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