Phelophepha apologises after stock shortages
Last week, dozens of eye patients were left frustrated when they were told that the train has ran out of spectacles
TRANSNET Phelophepha Train Manager, Bheki Mendlula has extended his apologies to the public, after they ran out of stock during their second week at Empangeni Rail.
Last week, dozens of eye patients were left frustrated when they were told that the train has ran out of spectacles.
Some of the aggrieved patients, mainly gogos from the King Cetshwayo District, said they were shocked when the ophthalmologists gave them prescriptions letters to go and buy over-the-counter glasses at local stores.
‘They checked our eyes and gave us letters to buy glasses. We survive on our pension grants; we don’t have money to buy our own glasses.
‘We were hoping that the Phelophepha train would provide us with glasses as they did for others,’ said 72-year-old Nokuthula Shabane of uMlalazi Reserve outside eShowe.
Shabane explained that she arrived at the rail on Monday afternoon to queue for the dental clinic, and to do eye tests as she struggles to read
‘I was attended to by a dentist on Tuesday, and I was told to return on Wednesday for the eye test,’ she said.
Mendlula said they did warn their clients that they were running out of spectacles.
‘Our operation here at Empangeni rail went smoothly. The turnout was good and we appreciate everything. We only experienced a shortage of eye glasses.
‘What we did was to screen all our clients and give them prescriptions to go to stores to buy glasses.
‘Other services such as psychiatric clinics and cancer screening did not experience any challenges.’
The train arrived in KZN in January and started by going to Newcastle, Pongola, Mkhuze, Mtubatuba and Empangeni and from here will be heading for Mpumalanga province.
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