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Hi. I was at Netcare Garden City, Johannesburg at the Clicks at about 9pm yesterday. I was not well and went to the chemist to get medication. Initially I was the only one in the queue, as I waited for the cashier to finish up with a nurse who was buying chocolate and airtime. After waiting for some time, I noticed that the cashier, Simphiwe Madlala was actually having a casual chat with the nurse. I continued waiting and I was eventually joined by an old man behind me. We continued to wait and Simphiwe could see we were waiting and he didn't even care, he continued having his casual chat. The old man behind me started to sigh and I lost my patience too after waiting for about 10 mins for Simphiwe to have a casual chat. I asked him if I could please pay and he could continue his chat in his own time, because he's giving us terrible customer service. Simphiwe responded with a shocking attitude, asking me that couldn't I see that he's having a chat with a customer. So, Simphiwe rudely admits to having a casual chat with the nurse whilst we waited. Then I told him that that's very rude of him to be doing that whilst we waited and he told me I won't tell him what to do & used the "click" which is a translation for "f*ck off." I was so gobsmacked, my jaw fell to the ground. I asked to please speak to his manager, he laughed in my face and told me he's the manager & was literally showing off that he can treat customers anyhow. Myself and the old man asked Simphiwe to apologize for his conduct and making us wait and he flat out refused and told us he doesn't care and we can report him, which was when he arrogantly gave us his name and surname. There were security guards and pharmacists around and Simphiwe continued to backchat myself and the old man and told us to gladly report him, giving us the impression that he's used to this behavior and he knows he will get away with it.

I have never, ever, ever received such ********** customer service in my entire 33 years of life. This is a pharmacy for heavens sake, it's not just customers that go there, it's patients and people that are not well. How dare Clicks and Netcare Garden City treat patients with such stultifying service and continue to call themselves private healthcare. Imagine if I was gravely ill and end up collapsing because your cashier wanted to have a casual conversation with his friend during his working hours. My god, the old man behind me was obviously not well, why should an old man be exposed to such *******.

Your cashier, Simphiwe gave us worse service than public hospitals. Why should we pay so much money for private healthcare when we get below public hospital service? I demand that action be taken again this arrogant cashier, who clearly doesn't give a damn about people's health, well being and who has zero customer service. Otherwise, change service providers and get Dischem instead since they have better customer. This is gravely unacceptable.

I will definitely escalate this matter and will go up to the minister of health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi. This is not for myself but for the old man who was there and other patients because this type of neglectful behavior will lead to someone's death.

I need to get this matter unto social media to warn others because no one should be a victim when they are unwell. This is grossly unacceptable. I am appalled that this happens in a private health facility.

Absolutely shocking!