Resident fed up with windscreen washers

If you use the Greenstone and Bruma intersections on a regular basis, you might have seen the infamous windscreen washers who are always there.

Some motorists have expressed their frustrations and disgust at the way some of the windscreen washers treat motorists at these intersections.

Some have accused them of being aggressive and downright disrespectful, making motorists feel vulnerable and unsafe while stopping at these intersections.

One of those motorists is Bedfordview resident Mr Leon de Bruin.

Mr De Bruin took it upon himself to mobilise residents to protest against the windscreen washers at the Bruma intersection and the Greenstone intersection.

A demonstration against the windscreen washers was held at the Bruma intersection on September 17, while the Greenstone protest was held on September 24 in Greenstone Hill.

Mr De Bruin said somebody needed to take a stand against the windscreen washers.

“I am a normal resident of Bedfordview and I could not face myself allowing them to operate with impunity. The efforts of the authorities come to nothing. This is due to the category B offence that windscreen washing is and it has a R50 fine. We cannot keep doing the same thing and expect a different result,” said Mr De Bruin.

He said the objective of the protest was simple.

The windscreen washers were not welcome and they have to go.

“We needed to raise awareness, educate motorists and display our anger to both the windscreen washers and the authorities. They are not simply windscreen washers. They are criminals. They subject motorists to insults, assaults, intimidation, abuse, damage to cars and even attempted murder, yet we allow them to get away with it,” said Mr De Bruin.

He said he feels the protests had achieved a lot more than expected, especially in terms of raising awareness and understanding the activities of the windscreen washers.

“They operate in syndicates and have leaders, Nigerian and Congolese. The Greenstone windscreen washers and the Bruma washers are linked. They act as look-outs for hijacking syndicates and commit home invasions at night.

“They rotate between being windscreen washers, beggars and refuse collectors with plastic bags in and around the Edenvale, Kensington, Bedfordview and Bruma areas. A disgusting, but somewhat humorous fact we learnt is that they often urinate in their bottles to top them up,” said Mr De Bruin.

He said the protests at Bruma and Greenstone have generated city-wide awareness in both the media and social media.

It has placed the issue top of mind with residents, councillors, politicians and policing departments.

“Numerous radio stations have debated the issue on air. Other suburbs around the city are debating, following in the footsteps of the Bedfordview and Edenvale protests. The scourge is across the city and we hope residents across the city, including our suburbs, will step up,” he said.

Mr De Bruin said the authorities can only apply the law.

Windscreen washing is a minor offence. He said it is the crimes against the motorists that need to be dealt with, which carry much heavier penalties.

He also urged motorists to report these incidents, without exception, in order for the authorities to deal with them.

“Motorists need to educate themselves on the real activities of these windscreen washers, so that no one else needs to convince them not to support them at the intersections. Motorists must simply stop supporting them,” he said.

He said, like many other motorists who use these intersections, he has had his share of dealing with windscreen washers.

“My experiences are no different to the rest of the community. What I have noted is that they choose to pick on women and the elderly. Often these vulnerable people decline a windscreen wash but get one anyway. When they refuse payment they are intimidated into paying or their car is damaged. It is downright bullying,” he said.

He doesn’t think the businesses in the area are obliged to do anything about windscreen washers as they too are victims.

“The truth is that the buildings in the area are struggling to get tenants because of these criminals and business people, especially women, visiting companies in the area ask to meet at alternative locations in order avoid entering the intersections. This is damaging the image and reputation of the suburbs and the entire area. Many people choose alternative routes to avoid the affected intersections,” said Mr De Bruin.

He appealed to the businesses in the area to engage and work with them to explore how they can stop this scourge.

He also made an appeal to the Community Policing Forums (CPFs), politicians, journalists, policing departments and security companies in the area to work with them on this issue.

Mr De Bruin urged motorists not to support windscreen washers and to educate anyone and everyone not to.

“If you support them, then you are complicit in the crimes they commit and you are perpetuating the problem while exposing so many others to risk. Many people who support them are from other parts of the city. The kind-hearted should support the many legitimate charities,” he said.

He said many people have complained about this issue but there have been no results.

“The residents have an initiative and opportunity now to make their voice heard. Please help us grow and keep the momentum before the opportunity is lost. It is a matter of time before a tragedy occurs. Let us put a stop to this,” said Mr De Bruin.

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