By Nangamso Mabindla
10 January 2006

HOW satisfied are you? Buffalo City Municipality is to undertake a Customer Care Survey to determine the satisfaction levels of its customers.

The survey, to be done in March, will be conducted by the City's policy and research unit and communications department, with the help of an independent service provider.

Communications manager Darby Gounden said the city's 93 000 households and businesses would be included in the survey.

"It will be based on the services the City renders to its customers. We would like to know what our customers think of our services and see what we are doing right and where we need to improve," Gounden explained.

Last year the City undertook a similar survey, but canvassed only 2 000 households on municipal services, ranging from traffic and grass cutting to water, electricity, roads and others.

It reported a Buffalo City Municipality satisfaction index of 59 percent. "Even though we were relatively successful we did not want to rest on our laurels - that is why we want to continue with another survey," Gounden said.

The survey would include urban, rural and peri-urban areas. "Our ultimate aim is to see our customers satisfied and their faith in our organisation strengthened."