Nicolette Dirk
A TABLE View resident driven to his wits’ end by noise made at a local KFC has set up a website for other residents to post incidents relating to the disturbance at the franchise.
The creator of http:// publicdisturbance.co.za/ Garth Raulstone said he put these posts on KFC South Africa’s Twitter feed, but did not receive a response.
The noise issues at KFC started in December when the franchise started their 24-hour drive-through service. Living in Portico Building, which is situated right next to KFC, Raulstone said the noise made by motorists in the evening kept him awake on many nights.
“Customers started hooting, arguing with each other and making a noise in general at all hours. Over the holiday season, it was really bad. We’d get woken up three or four times a night,” he said.
Raulston said residents had asked the KFC manager to sort out the problem following separate incidents, but were told that there was nothing the KFC could do.
“At various times I’d call the branch at night and get told that the customers were drunk, and that’s why they were making a noise. But no effort was made to calm them,” he said.
After several complaints from residents, Raulstone said KFC hired more security guards at the branch, but this only lasted a week as the guards are no longer visible.
An alarm was also installed at the drive-through to alert the staff when there were customers, but Raulstone said it did not stop the hooting if the collection point was slow, and customers from arguing with each other.
“I contacted the police, but I was told unless they caught customers causing these disturbances red-handed, there was nothing they could do,” he said.
KFC communications manager Gail Sham said they were aware of the complaints regarding the noise levels at the Table View branch and had put measures in place to address them.
“The KFC store in Table View has put measures and controls in place, which include signs at the store to ask customers to reduce the noise and avoid hooting, together with the installation of a chime to alert staff members of cars entering the drive-through so that staff can deliver speedy service to move cars quickly through the ordering process,” she said.
Sham said the branch also kept its lobby open at night so that customers who want to socialise can do so inside the restaurant. The store has worked with suppliers on alternative delivery times.
“KFC is also working closely with the Table View police as well as the local neighbourhood watch vehicle, and has a 24-hour store security on-site.
“Since these measures were put in place, there has been a reduction in the noise levels and we continue to work to address this,” said Sham.