Small business owner Allie Arendse (63) says he struggles daily to maintain a profit but also render a good service to his clients.
Arendse is the owner of Melody Hills Trading and has operated a car wash at the Atlantis Taxi Business Hives since 2001. The Business Hives is a City of Cape Town property and does not have an operator at present. He fears that because he cannot provide a convenient service to customers, owing to unpleasant weather conditions, he may be at risk of losing them.
The site he is running the car wash from is without a roof and he is forced to ask tenants for electricity. He has his regular clients, but attracting new customers is always a challenge.
The City of Cape Town is in the process of leasing the Hives out to a suitable operator to manage, control and redevelop for up to 10 years.
Start-up businesses and/or small business owners like Arendse, in need of support and business advise can contact SEDA on 021 577 1045 and any City-related queries can be sent to the City’s Business Support Unit via email at Business.Support@capetown.gov.za.
