DEAR Editor,-
I am a car guard on the South Coast. It is not what I chose to do, but all that there is to do. By trade, I am a carpenter, capable of creating beauty from a piece of wood. But there are no jobs for me here. I am not a young man anymore, but always thought that my experience and qualifications would count.
My wife and I decided to relocate to the South Coast almost a year ago now and just like many people before us, we thought we had some kind of future here, adding value to the community and working to earn our keep. A lot of people have already gone back to Johannesburg or wherever they came from, but that costs money and requires resources, which we don’t have. This place is for retired people who have money.
Generally, I look after cars at beach parking areas and to do this, you need to be graded and registered in Durban as a car guard. This is not easy – you need to complete a course and it takes quite a bit of money, plus it took almost five months to get my card. A tedious process, but necessary because if you are caught without it, the fines are heavy.
My job is not pleasant. I get verbally abused for motorists who park across the lines, restricting the next parking. Some people swear at me when I greet them, some people look down on me, some even throw money out the window onto the tar. So, I bend down and pick it up – because I need it, it puts food on the table.
I have picked up my bag and walked off, a few times. But, I go back, for the little bit of money that will help us survive. It is an honest job and I relish the times when some people are friendly, chatty and afford me some courtesy and respect. All I ask is that people please spare a thought for the ‘lowly’, lonely car guard, trying to do his job. I recite Psalm 23 daily … please God, give me strength.
DESPONDENT CAR GUARD
Margate
