GALLERY: Who guards us from the car guards?

The popular Greenside strip on Gleneagles Road has been marred lately by the growing issues surrounding the car guards on the road. Many of the car guards have been accused of drinking, drug dealing, harassing visitors, car jamming and even breaking and entering.

Mathew Scott, manager at Topo Gigio, spoke angrily about the situation. “All of them are drunk every single day, they hound people, they chase people and demand R20 to park on the side of the road without permission. I’ve witnessed every single car guard around here sell some form of drugs to somebody. On two occasions I wouldn’t let customers back in because I watched them buy joints across the road,” he complained.

Ntando Ncube, a car guard who is employed officially outside of Mishmash Bar and Restaurant, confirmed, “The other guards are always drinking alcohol.” He said that he had witnessed car guards enter cars then get dropped off soon after. He thinks these guards are selling drugs to passersby.

Car guard, Christopher Mazantsi, said that the other car guards often use car jammers. “I have been a witness two times in police cases for car jamming,” he said, adding that the cases were against other car guards.

Owner of The Artisan Restaurant and Cocktail Bar, Jon Scholtz, said that he is most concerned about loss of patronage due to customers being harassed. He said, “About a year and a half ago when the area was popular for its night clubs, the car guards flourished selling drugs to students. There are a lot of bad apples left. Nobody has really been proactive about fixing the situation, including the owners [of the restaurants on Gleneagles Road].”

Parkview Police spokesperson, Sergeant Lloyd Ramovha, said that the police had only received complaints about isolated break-in incidents. He added that residents should “make sure to complain to the right people.”

Details: Parkview Police 011 486 5000.