WATCH: Municipality finds a way forward for local car guards

CAR guards came together in the municipal building in Market Square this morning to meet with local councillors regarding steps to regulate the activity of the car guards in the area.

Shortly after 8am, Ward 9 councillor, Alta de Kock, opened the meeting in prayer and thereafter proceeded to address the attending car guards until the other councillors and municipal officials arrived.

While waiting for other councillors to arrive, Speaker, Michael Khumalo, welcomed those present and brought up the point that the by-laws made no provision for car guards.

“As council, we need to adjust the by-laws…” he mentioned. “Policy does not say that there will be car guards…”

As the meeting proceeded, Kumarin Naicker, Acting Manager of Safety and Security at AbaQulusi Municipality, took the floor and raised several key points in his address to the attending car guards.

In his call to the car guards, Naicker noted specific behaviour that will no longer be tolerated and the car guards were warned against such conduct.

“You cannot work with the public if you drink,” he implored.”What you are doing is illegal,” he added, “but we are not going to stop you. We are going to help you find a way forward instead…” said Naicker, regarding the the registration and subsequent regulation of the community’s car guards.

Naicker also noted that a certain dress code would be implemented as car guards often deal with tourists and need to set a certain impression. Naicker added that the car guards would need to be polite and not aggravate motorists or create a public nuisance.

Naicker further raised the issue of what will be required from the local car guards who wish to continue working as such:

• A committee will need to be formed by the end of February 2017.
• Car guards who wish to be registered must go to the SAPS and undergo an SAP21 which will reveal if they have a criminal record. Any criminal offense in the last five years will result in disqualification.
• Applicants will need to provide the municipality with a certified copy of their ID.

From the municipality’s side, Naicker explained what will be done to ensure the successful and smooth transition of the new regulations that are being rolled out.

• A code of conduct for car guards will be compiled and designed by the municipality.
• A slot in the by-laws will be created to include car guards.
• Council will assign the car guards to demarcated areas and provide them with identification to make them recognisable to the public as registered car guards.
• Council reserves the right to restrict the amount of car guards at any given time.
• All public roads and parking areas remain the property of AbaQulusi Municipality and car guards are not permitted to interfere with the work of municipal traffic officials, police or traffic police.

The general atmosphere was one of contentment from the car guards, as they applauded several of the points raised by the municipality.

At the end of February, the car guards who responded to the notice for the meeting will come together once more to collect the prescribed form from Naicker and have been encouraged to ensure that no new car guards are taken on as the municipality feels that there are already too many.

“I feel that this meeting went very well,” smiled Councillor Mtshali who took some time to chat to the Vryheid Herald after the car guards left the building. “It is important for us to understand the role of the car guards in our community and to work with them to build the image of our town…”

Councillor De Kock urges the public to report any unlawful or untoward behaviour by car guards to the municipality, but also encourages the community to treat the car guards with courtesy and thank them once in a while.

Watch Alta de Kock’s message to the community in the video below…

To see what sparked the idea to regulate the local car guards, read DIY project turns deadly