30 Mar 2020

The SPAR Supermarket, in Mahalapye, has heed government’s call to the nation to impose hygienic measures in an effort to curb the spread of COVID - 19.

Mahalapye SPAR Supermarket, Post Manager, Ms Thembile Makwacha-Dintwe said to avoid direct contact of customers, while on queue inside the supermarket, they had made some 1.5 metres, apart, markings on the floor, to guide customers .

“As another measure to reduce congestion inside the supermarket, we have also made some 50 numbered tags  that we issue to customers, as they enter the supermarket and collect them as they exit. This also helps us to monitor and ensure that customers adhere to the other measures that we’ve imposed inside the supermarket,” she said.

Additionally, Ms Makwacha-Dintwe said the Mahalapye SPAR Supermarket management, had also deployed a shop assistant by the shop entrance to offer hand sanitiser to customers before they entered the supermarket.

Another shop assistant, she said had been deployed outside the supermarket to sanitise trolleys throughout the day. All the trolleys, she said were sanitised before and after customers used them.

“We also have a special and distinguished service for our senior citizen customers. When they get here, they are free to call us from their vehicles, by the supermarket parking, and notify us that they are outside. From there, we assign a shop assistant to go and collect their shopping list and money, then do the shopping for them and deliver their items to their vehicles at the parking,” she said.

Alternatively, she said senior citizens could call the supermarket from the comfort of their own homes and give shop assistants their shopping list, so that all their items were gathered in advance.

“So, when they get here, they inform us from the parking that they are outside in the vehicle, then we assign someone to deliver their goods and collect the payment. But, we do still provide them with hand sanitisers, as well, before we get their shopping list and money from them,” she added.

Furthermore, to ensure that, while on duty, the supermarket staff is also protected and safe, as they engage with customers, Ms Makwacha-Dintwe said the staff was also required to sanitise their hands or wash them with soap and clean water regularly and also adhere to keeping the stipulated distance apart from each other and customers.

In addition, she said they had also availed a thermometer, to check the temperature of staff, daily, when they report for duty.

She said anyone who had a high temperature was advised to seek medical help.

However, despite all the effort in coming up with all these safety measures, she said they still came across uncooperative customers. ENDS