Many motorists find them abusive and aggressive and feel they force people to give them money. They also stand in the middle of the road causing a hazard for moving traffic.
Spokesperson for eblockwatch Andre Snyman has his own strategy when it comes to window washers.
“When you approach robots, stop 10m before them, ” he said. “Then wait until they get to your car and edge forward. That way you will never be next to them and they cannot approach the car.”
Mark Pinky Rozyn wrote on the eblockwatch Facebook page warning the public to “be very careful at the intersection at Grayston Drive and Katherine Street”.
He contacted the police and Metro police about the problem but said they “do not seem interested in stopping this”.
According to Metro police spokesperson Edna Mamonyane, the window washers’ actions were not a serious crime. She said if they were arrested, they were let go the next day and return to the same spot to carry out their window washing. Mamonyane added that the main problem lay in their behaviour towards women.
“They intimidate and harass women motorists as well as swear at and threaten them,” said Mamonyane.
They keep returning to the same location because, according to Mamonyane, “some people feel sorry for them and keep giving them money”.
She advised motorists to ensure their windows were closed and not to engage with the window washers.
“If we ignore them, they will not return to the intersection,” added Mamonyane.
