The repair of an electric cable by the Tshwane metro has a business owner fuming over what he claims to be poor service, slack procedures and lack of common sense.
John Peters said a repair team arrived without notice a week ago at his business in Lynnwood Road, dug a trench to get hold of an electrical cable and left the dirt from the trench on the parking bays. A steel pole now sticks dangerously out of the ground and is still unmarked, posing a possible threat of damage to clients’ vehicles as they turn into the parking area.
“I was told that the dirt would remain there for a month to allow the metro to see if the repaired cable was in working condition. How ridiculous. In the meantime, I was expected to go on as usual without space for my clients to park.”
He added that a clean-up team, which arrived a week later, did little. Furthermore, he was told that he could not receive a reference number for his complaint, as it was not part of the metro’s procedures. “When the team arrived, they covered the trench. My team and I had to get stuck in to do a proper job. I spent time, money and effort to make my business look professional, this is not acceptable. I am dumbfounded by the slack attitude and lack of common sense.”
Peters added that he was expected to repair the garden outside his business. “If I have to wait for the metro, I suspect I will have to wait a very long time. There are procedures to follow and surely notices to warn business owners of planned repaired work. This is a business, I’m here during working hours.”
The metro was unable to comment at the time of going to print.
