Nadine Pretoriius writes by email:

Every day, thousands of people walk past us without really seeing us. They see the reflective vest. They see the hand signal directing them into a parking bay.

They see the person who offers to keep an eye on their vehicle. But very few stop to wonder who we are, where we come from, or what brought us here. I am a car guard.

For many, those words carry assumptions. Some think we are beggars. Some believe we are lazy or addicted to drugs. Others think we are trying to guilt people into giving us money.

The truth is often very different.

Many of us are fathers, mothers, grandparents, students, and qualified people who simply could not find stable employment.

We have applied for jobs, handed out CVs, attended interviews, and waited for opportunities that never came. When the doors remained closed, we chose honest work instead of turning to crime.

ALSO READ: GALLERY: Bakerton Library set to open after years of construction delays

Standing in a parking lot for 10 or twelve hours a day is not easy. We work through scorching heat, freezing rain, and bitter cold.

We spend hours on our feet, smiling at strangers, directing traffic, helping people reverse safely, assisting with heavy shopping bags, and hoping that at the end of the day we have earned enough to buy food for our families.

Our job is about more than watching cars.

We often keep an eye on elderly shoppers as they make their way back to their vehicles. We notice when a child is left waiting in a car while a parent rushes into a shop.

We watch over pets left inside vehicles and raise the alarm if something seems wrong. We are another pair of eyes in places where people can become distracted or
vulnerable.

Many motorists return to find their vehicles exactly as they left them without ever realising that someone may have discouraged suspicious behaviour simply by being present.

While no one can prevent every theft or act of vandalism, having responsible people watching over a parking area can make a difference.

We are not asking for pity. We are asking to be seen.

ALSO READ: 74-year-old arrested after firearms and explosives found in Edelweiss home

See the parent trying to put food on the table. See the graduate still searching for a chance. See the person who chose honest work when life offered few opportunities.

Every coin you give is not just a tip. It is bread on a table, school shoes for a child, electricity for a home, or transport to another job interview. Every greeting, every smile, every moment of respect reminds us that our dignity has not been forgotten.

We do not expect everyone to tip us. We understand that times are hard for many people. But kindness costs nothing. A simple “thank you” or a moment of acknowledgement can mean more than you know.

Behind every reflective vest is a human being with hopes, dreams, disappointments, and responsibilities.

We are not invisible. We are not defined by where we work.

We are people doing honest work in difficult circumstances, waiting for the day when opportunity finally finds us.

Until then, we will continue showing up every morning, doing our best, and earning our living with dignity – one parking bay at a time.