Drinking on the job and drug taking are two inappropriate activities that have been observed among car guards in lower Ballito, but KwaDukuza council has flatly rejected a proposal that they be monitored.
The Urban Improvement Precinct, appointed last year to improve service levels in some areas of the town, wants to have some control over this activity, as many car guards are self-appointed and are not obliged to keep to any standards of behaviour.
UIP security manager Dieter Fittkau said they wanted to see the sector formalized as has been successfully done in Umhlanga and Durban’s Florida Road.
“The parking monitor proposal seeks to re-position car guarding as a value added service to the community,” said Fittkau.
The programme planned for 14 guards be sourced locally and be paid a weekly allowance of R400. The money would have been funded by the UIP and private businesses. The car guards were to be registered with the Private Security industry Regulatory (PSiRA), managed and supervised by the UIP and be given communication devices and ongoing training.
This was to enable them to immediately contact the authorities in an emergency.
Almost every week Umhlali police report incidents of car theft or break-ins at Ballito beaches. The parking monitors would be based at beachfront areas which include Willard Beach, Mo-Zam-
Bik restaurant, La Montagne, The Boulders, Emberton Way and Coco der Mer, Hawkins Road carpark, the Ballito Village, Salmon Bay, Foch le Roux Lane and Zimbali beach parking lot.
However businesses in the area said that they did not have a problem with the current car guards.
The Galley restaurant manager Thami Nena said the guard outside the restaurant was friendly and well mannered.
“You cannot blame someone for your car getting broken into when you have no proof that they were involved,” he said.
Current car guard at Boulders Beach, Eric Radebe said he was glad the programme had been turned down. “We will probably lose our jobs and new people will be found to take our place. You do not need training to be a guard,” said Radebe.
Ballito resident Rebecca Malroy said she was disappointed that the UIP’s efforts are not being realised by council.
“Why are any safety measures that are brought up for Ballito being turned down? It is unfair to the UIP and to the community as a whole. I often take walks or read a book at Boulders Beach and I
would like the peace of mind of knowing that my car is safe and that the person taking care of it can be identified if something happens to it,” she said.
Fittkau said the UIP intends to re-table the parking monitor proposal at the next available opportunity.
“The parking monitors would have added to the collective security efforts by SAPS, KDM and the UIP by providing more eyes and ears on the ground which has proved to reduce vehicle and general crime levels,” said Fittkau.
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