Do they really serve a purpose? Are car guards a preventative solution or a counter productive scam?

I don't pay car guards.

I not only do not pay them, but I also believe that the practice should be outlawed or regulated by an authoritative body.

It's not about lack of compassion or a racist issue because I don't pay any car guards regardless of their race or creed.

The reason why I take such a strong stance in this is because every single day we are bound to run into a car guard at any place that we go to. At the gym, when you go out for lunch, when you return to your car after shopping, when you go to the movies or a sport function.

If you had to pay even just R5 to each car guard you encounter during your normal day, you could be spending up to R450 a month to pay car guards. Surely this is why we pay for car insurance? Now your monthly R1 000 that you pay for insurance has just turned into R1450 a month.

Insurance is supposed to be an insurance against fire, theft or a 3rd party claim. So what happens if your car gets stolen while under the care of a self appointed car guard? Does the car guard pay you out?

Not in this lifetime.

And what about the number of times people have claimed that their vehicles had been broken into while under the supposed care of a car guard? How many people believe that car guards are responsible for many of the thefts and damage to cars?

I particularly remember the story of a gentleman who came out of a popular Johannesburg shopping centre and was followed to his car by a car guard who told him on the way that everything was fine with his car, hoping for a nice tip.

Only when they arrived at the where the car had been parked, the car was gone. Was it the car guard's fault? Not really no, but this just strengthens my argument that they are not really there to watch your car as much as they are to watch their own pockets.

What about the car guard who gets back at a person who didn't pay him by damaging their car the next time they encounter it?

South Africans are forced into actually paying the fees to avoid a backlash.

And the argument that they are earning a decent living is bollocks. Any person, skilled or not, can approach any of the unions and ask for assistance.
The unions help to find employment for both skilled and unskilled people. Because they land up taking a portion of that person's salary as union fees, so they actively assist people to find jobs. Those that aren't lazy.

And it is with this reason that I find that the self made profession of guarding cars is nothing more than extortion and a scourge.

Shopping centers and other places where car theft might be a problem should employ car guards and pay them themselves and not force the public to pay a car guard to do a half job.

Those that prowl public streets should be paid for by the municipality, properly appointed, registered and with the proper attire.

This extortion has to stop.

How soon until you back out of your driveway only to be accosted by someone who tells you "Hey, I'll watch your house for you....."

I agree totally.

These people are damn freeloaders: standing around 'watching' a car is not a job, and is in the same league as begging IMO.

Also, what will a car guard do if someone actually does try to steal your car? Blow a whistle? Shout loudly? Assist in the theft? The one and only time I felt justified in paying a guard was in Melville one night when I jokingly asked the guy as I was locking my car, "So will you shoot anyone who tries to steal my car?" and he pulls out a fuck-off big revolver and says, "Yes, sir, of course sir!"

I've often seen car guards getting drunk or high, which makes we want to give them a nudge with my bumper even more. I was recently hassled by two guards at the Edenvale Nando's, where they came up to my window and demanded money as I left. Their eyes were red and they had a hectic chemical smell about them, and hardly seemed to know what was going on. I gave one of them R2 just to get him away from my car (my gf was with me and I'd rather bite the bullet and pay than risk a scene with two high car guards), but when I did so the other jammed his hand up to the window and said he wanted to be paid as well. I refused, and they continued to harass me from up against my window until I pulled out past them and left.

Needless to say I e-mailed Nando's to let them know that this scourge had set up shop outside their store, but I'm still waiting for a reply. They also work the KFC across the road too, making it damn difficult to get a good chicken burger in Edenvale

Sadly this isn't the first time something like this has happened: I'm sure everyone's had to deal with this at least once before. What worries me is that if my mom or my girlfriend gets harassed by guards like that, and they go too far by attacking them, or worse.

The best practice is the system at Bedford Centre, where the guards are paid by the centre itself, and they get fired if they are found accepting money from drivers. Other shopping malls and such should wise up and do the same.

It is just another way for the government to opt out and avoid good governance.

Everybody is so busy watching, discussing, engaging, paying car guards that nobody stops and says, 'where is the police force?'.

There should be no place far car guards in society cos the police force and justice system should act as such strong deterrents that criminals should ACTUALLY be afraid to steal cars.

Oh yeah, I was just day dreaming, of course this is SA and stealing cars is a decent, worthy living

Pay tax -> crap police -> pay private car guards
Pay tax -> crap health care -> pay private medical aid
Pay tax -> crap TV -> Pay private DSTV
Pay tax -> crap roads -> pay private toll roads

well i can honestly say that all my experiences with car guards have been quite good.... and I always tip them and I really dont mind doing so...

i remember one time my friend and I went for supper and he left his window of the car open by mistake and the carguards who also has a car wash actually came to park all the cars they were meant to clean close to his car so that they could watch it. and when we offered to give them something they refused to take it...

and even if they are paid by the malls i would still give them something.. and besides.. there is no law that says you MUST tip them... so dont.. just drive off....


i have been to almost every shopping mall in cape town, hell i've been all around cape town and no where has guards forced or harassed me for money or anybody else that i know of.... in fact alot of people here in ct drives off without even giving the person anything or even saying thank you... you guys in jhb and durbs have it bad though...
shame.... you gotta love cape town!!

For me it depends.

If I am just in and out of the shopping centre/mall quickly, then I am probably not gonna tip.

If I have spent quite a long time in the mall, and come back to find the same car guard in the vacinity of my car, then I reckon that he has done a good job, and I tip him.

I do not tip the oke who suddenly appears out of nowhere, and expects to get tipped for doing nothing.

The other day at Kollonnade Mall I was quite impressed with the car guard. We rocked up there, and this car guard actually had a notepad on which he wrote things. I asked to see what he was writing down. He showed me the pad, and what he did was to actually write down a description of the driver of the car, and the car, so that he could keep better tabs on who came in with what. And also, when we got back to the car after a few hours in the mall, he was still there, and even remembered which car was mine. That I do not mind tipping for.

I tip some car guards.

The ones at the spar closest to my home I sometimes tip, sometimes not, sometimes a little, sometimes a lot (hey, that rhymes )
They are always friendly, and I'm always friendly back. I would much rather give money to a man who stands at the same spot till 8pm, wears some kind of uniform (even if it is only black pants and whatever colour shirt and a yellow reflective thingy) than the fat ass woman who sits at the traffic light and lets her 3 6 year old children run between the cars with cups in their hands.
I pay the car guards not only for looking after my car (which they sortof do), but also giving money for a man to stand at the same spot for the whole day lessens the chance that he will have the need to do crime. If he can get R3k for the month that way, he can eat. If he earns nothing, he will have to steal to survive. Jobs are scarce, if there were jobs for everyone, I doubt that crime would be as high, that we would have car guards and beggars at every robot and KFC.

What I dont like though, are those "car guards" who charge you R20 up front to park on the sidewalk 1km away from the stadium where the pro 20 match is taking place. Its public space. It belongs to no-one!
The organisers has no right to charge you to park there, but we are too scared to NOT pay.

Yeah, I gotta agree there. I heard on the radio the other day that on average though, the car guards make about R6 500.00 per month. Not bad really.

You're so right. They most likely went to high school, had to do their work under candles and paraffin lamps while all the car-drivers just skated through with private tutors, managed to get a matric despite all the odds, and there are now no jobs. So instead of doing the right thing and being a begger, they thought they try to get a job whatever it was, wear a uniform and maybe do some good, watching rich dickheads driving around and helping them with there trolly's for what, 5 rand so they can buy a loaf of bread ?

Ye.. they really are such slackers... they should just beg or steal your car. I would rather steal...

It is, however a proven fact that vehicle theft dropped in some areas where REPUTABLE car gaurds have been stationed, but in some areas theft rose. (You can form your own oppinion about that)

I normally dont give them anything, for two reasons, i dont spend a lot of time in one place or i dont trust them to realy look after my car (usually in huge parking lots, where they watch over a huge area)

I heard from one car gaurd outside the local Spur, he makes about R2000 a week, tax free.

You should come to Gauteng, we'll speak again

I tip them on very rare occiasions. Sometimes car guards help you loading groceries into the car and in some instances stop an on-coming vehicle in its tracks allowing me to easily reverse out of the parking bay with out waiting too long to get a gap to make a quick exit.

When I do tip, I give no more than R2.

Often, you see a car guard tell you that he's gonna look after your car while you're shopping. Then you go into the store, he goes off to another part of the parking lot tells the same thing to another motorist, then when he see's you with your trolley full of groceries he does the 100m dash to your car faster than Carl Lewis and he tries to act like he was there "guarding" your car the whole time. It very comical actually.....

But guys, even if they are bad "car guards", at least they are trying to be legit and not steal, and they dont exactly get a basic salary with dental... they live off your tips...

If they can't show me my car or don't even know what car I came in... they get nothing.

I once went to open a BM which my golf (1 car away) was parked next to and the car guard moved to the boot to help me load my groceries, at the last minute I ducked past him and opened my golf.

When I was done loading the groceries into the golf myself I started making a move to leave and this guy actually tapped my window with his hand out.

I told him to f#ck off, he didn't even know what car was mine.

And as Rush said, I pay insurance for a reason.

on occasion when I return to a parking lot and find a guard walking with me to my car, I stop and ask them to identify my car.

If the guy can point out my car, I'll tip him.

Its bullshit that they just follow you to try and extort money from you when they don't even know which is your car.

The idea of a notebook carrying guard is a grand one. If a guard really wants to look out for my car then he needs to carry a notebook and take notes and a suitable weapon. Attacking a car thief with a chair isn't going to cut it.

you need to ask Ian to do his car guard impersonation. It's excellent.

"Ek het die Polo mooi gecheck maboza!"

Well, i was nearly shot at my local spar (it was robbed) and once had a guy reverse straight into my car (2K damage). In both scenarios, there was no car guard in sight.

I REALLY do not feel like tipping them at all.

/2c

while in Umdloti, my sister's car was damaged in a parking lot by the beach. Who ever reserved into her still got out and inspected the damage (there were finger marks in the dust on the back and bumper)

When left the beach and saw the damage we asked the car guard had he seen anything he was like "EISH!?"

didn't see a thing. What help is that?

My mom had two cars stolen when car guards were standing right there (most prob in on it) the rediculous thing was that she paid the dude and walked to an empty spot where her car was.

I tip them, I don't know why, I should just tell them to stuff off.

Well, I hardly ever have cash on me so it is kinda tough for me to give them anything, unless (which will most likely happen) they have a speedpoint with them. When I do have cash on me it very much depends on 2 things.

1. How long I was there.
2. If they can tell me what car I am in, and where I parked it.

My dad was making an interestng argument with regards to these guards, well actually one of his lawyer friends. He basically said that if you acknowledge them when they say can I look after your car, then something happens to them while watching your car, they can sue you. I forget everything else regarding it, but that was the basic version.

The problem is that there are many of them who are after a free ride, and extort motorists for their own personal gain. Take the guys who charge you R20 to park in a public space: how many people are going to refuse, knowing full well that they'll probably return to a vandalised vehicle (or no vehicle at all)?

I also seriously doubt that there are many car guards who do it because they want to "do some good."

It's difficult to separate the scum from the guys who are genuinely helpful though. The only time I'll fork out is if the guy is working late (i.e. outside the pub till 3AM or something), or if it's the middle of winter and he stands by the cars regardless. Expecting a tip when I've only been in the shop 5 minutes is also bullshit. It fucks me off highly though that I must feel pressured or even threatened to pay them sometimes, especially when they appear all of a sudden when I get back to my car, or when they clearly want the money to get wasted.

I fear for the safety of my girlfriend, mom, female friends, etc. too: one of these punks could easily lose his cool, or could even be a spotter for thieves or rapists. IMHO we shouldn't pay these random guards who swipe a yellow bib and pretend to be genuine car guards; rather, if everyone made an effort to pay only proper guards then it might move the unofficial ones to go and get official jobs.