The forum is working on introducing a way for all car guards to be registered and screened to fulfil their employment as car guards at various operation points.
“We have discussed this with the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) as well as the local management of the metro,” says chairman of the CPF, Mike du Toit.
Du Toit says the proposed regulation would apply to car guards operating in public areas.
“We would not be able to exercise any control over car guards operating in private areas, unless requested to do so by the owners of the property,” he adds.
The CPF feels that if there is no form of official control over car guards, there will be a tendency for the guards to be susceptible to the control of criminal elements.
Du Toit says the CPF is currently studying the by-laws governing the control of parking attendants.
He says the by-laws are under chapter seven in the EMPD services by-laws.
“The referred-to by-laws are quite intricate and detailed which means parts of it may not be suitable for our current social environment,” says du Toit.
“However, what is clear is that these laws are not currently being applied or policed at all as most car guards operate on an informal basis.”
Du Toit assures that the CPF has the support of the SAPS and EMPD.
“We have their full support but we still need to agree on a structural and legal framework with the metro management.
“After that, we can proceed further with this matter.”
