Car guards should be registered, concurs councillors
Unruly car guards have prompted local ward councillors to support the call for all guards to be registered. They say this would hold them accountable for any aggressive or anti-social behaviour.
CONTROVERSY surrounding the call to have car guards registered has been proposed across the country after the Private Security Regulatory Authority’s registration and training deputy, Mpho Mofikoe, raised the issue earlier this month. According to Mofikoe, every car guard should apply and possess a Grade E security certificate.
However, many car guards have shot back, saying that they could not afford registration.
Carlos Kojambi, a popular car guard at Sunningdale Centre, said he was in support of the appeal. He said although he has not registered, he does not oppose the idea.”At the moment it is not seen as a job. And although it is not my dream job I do enjoy car guarding. The community has been good to me, and if registration will help us earn us some respect then I am all for it,” he said.
uMhlanga ward councillor, Heinz de Boer, and Durban North councillor, Shaun Ryley, have also issued their support of the registration programme. “At the moment there are several local areas where car guards are out of control. They are loud, drunk, obnoxious and dangerous. In terms of the Road Traffic Act they are not qualified or properly trained to direct cars, nor do they have the authority to do so,” said De Boer.
He added that registration would also allow car guards to be subjected to criminal checks before being issued a certificate.
Ryley, echoed De Boer’s sentiments. “In Broadway we have a situation where there are car guards under the influence of alcohol.
“This is dangerous as they stagger in the middle of the busy road or pass out on the pavement,” he said.
In the past, he said, some residents have also reported that the car guards had become aggressive when they are refused any tips.
“With regulation of this activity those who are registered could be subjected to background checks and would be accountable for any aggressive or anti-social behaviour,” he said.
According to Ryley, a motion was submitted to council by the DA, requesting the potential for a registration programme to be investigated, but it was turned down.
