Car guards share stories
Most car guards have families which they support with the money they receive from shoppers.
People sometimes wonder how a car guards survive from receiving unguaranteed small coins now and then from drivers.
I was lucky to get the attention of a few on the streets of or Area. Sipho Mfene has been looking after cars that park on the bottom of Melville’s popular 7th Street for more than 15 years.
“I’ve been living from the hand outs of drivers for more than 18 years and I am proud to make a contribution to my family and take my children to school.” The 53 year old from Soweto said on a bad day he does not make less than R150 and on weekends he is happy because he can go home with R700 by guarding the bottom part of the street. He has been there long enough even drivers have gotten so used to him and they call him by his first name.
In Auckland Park close to the South African Broadcast Corporation there is Karabo Kalenga popularly known as Kari. He has been there for five years, the 26 year old said he took over his late father who had been guarding the area as long as he could remember.
“In 2007 he passed away, I dropped out of school because there was no one who could support my two young brothers. My father was able to take us to school with the money he made doing this and I do the same.” Kalenga said he makes about R7000 a month, even though some drivers are very rude at times. “Some drivers are violent, we rest under the trees and look after these cars they accuse us of trying to break in them and steal.
In Millpark, there were many than usual on one street at the Spar complex. Luvuyo Toni said he is comfortable even though there are many others. “It doesn’t affect me, I still make my money and my bills get paid, I have been here for 9 years and this is my best spot in Johannesburg.
If I was not an alcoholic I would have paid up my house or car by now, but that does not take away my happiness.”
