Trying to earn an honest wage
"Poverty brought me to the street corner," said Mbongeni.
Mbongeni Nkabinde (21) and Tshepo Mabunda (27) are one of many young men who stand at various intersections offering windscreen washing services to motorists.
Mbongeni and Tshepo said they wash windows for a living, as it keeps them away from being involved in crime.
Tshepo said he had to drop out of school because of a lack of finances. He wanted to study engineering.
“I am the first-born of five siblings living with a single parent and I have to take care of my family,” he said.
Mbongeni, on the other hand, only attended school until grade 7. He said he lives in a household of eight people.
Despite their attempts to earn an honest wage, it is still illegal to offer these services to motorists.
Mbongeni and Tshepo stand on the corner of Greenstone Drive and Van Riebeeck Avenue.
The Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Wilfred Kgasago, said the intersection is a grey area.
“In terms of the official demarcation, it falls under the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department’s (JMPD) jurisdiction. Nonetheless, both metros attend to complaints and accidents that occur in that location,” said Chief Supt Kgasago.
He said the area is periodically monitored.
“A weekly crackdown on hawkers and window washers is planned,” said Chief Supt Kgasago.
According to Chief Supt Kgasago, the National Road Traffic Act does not allow pedestrians to linger at intersections, or to offer any kind of trade.
Both window washers and hawkers are therefore committing an offence in terms of the Act.
The JMPD spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar, said they have a campaign where illegal window washers are arrested on a regular basis.
“However, they return to the streets to wash windows because that is where they make money. So the routine gets repeated,” said Chief Supt Minnaar.
He highlighted that the main intersections where illegal window washers are removed include Greyston Bridge, Marcia and Albertina Sisulu, William Nicol Drive and Rivonia Drive.
@Modder_Journo
i would have no problem.
if they were not rude and take advantage of single woman and people and scare them. dont wash, wait till someone says wash. Simple this is why they have no jobs cause they act this way
So if its an attempt at an honest living why are they swearing at motorists and harassing women. They are a menace and should not be allowed there. Windscreen washers and the rubbish items sold at robots are a hazard to motorists and should be removed
I think the authorities should enforce the law. You know, that’s why they are called law enforcement officers.
What is worse are the guys that sit up and down Hendrik potgieter the entire day.
A female driver was stabbed by a windscreen guy last Xmas at Bruma… I’ve had them spray water in my face when I refuse services… a male driver was also hit on the head with a brick at Bruma recently. They are thugs!
What a load of BS. I was on my way from having my washed and shook me head for him not to wash my window. He got aggressive with me after me telling him again no that I did not want me window washed he took his bottle of water and threw it at my car. They seem to intimidate women on their own.