Chairperson for the Knysna Community Services Committee, Councillor Irene Grootboom, explained the main objective to be that the registered attendants should not only safeguard the vehicles, but also monitor their immediate surroundings and have a friendly disposition towards the community - including motorists and pedestrians.
"To achieve this objective, registered attendants have been given certain guidelines in these respects at regular meetings held throughout the year with the Municipal Law Enforcement Department, SAPS and the Sector 1 CPSF," she said.
"At the last meeting, two members were voted to act as the parking attendants' captains and spokesmen by their peers. They are Daniel [Reyneveldt], who is posted at the Knysna Town Library, and Donovan [Samuels], who looks after parked vehicles at the lower Heads parking area."
SAPS screens each parking attendant applicant to ensure that the individual has no criminal record. He or she is then registered by the Municipal Law Enforcement Department. This department then issues the parking attendant with a green bib and allocate him/her their specific area in town.
Sector 1 CPSF chairperson Cheryl Britz noted that registered attendants are now recognised by their green and red bibs. "The Sector 1 CPSF has initiated Business Watch - a concept through which businesses can get involved in the fight against crime. The project invites businesses to approve of and issue the screened parking attendant in their area with a red bib, which may be branded with the business' logo," said Britz. For more information on the Business Watch initiative, or to order a red bib, contact Britz at 082 574 9657 or on jccj@absamail.co.za.
Grootboom encouraged business owners to get involved with the Business Watch initiative. "This is a great opportunity for businesses to play an active role in safeguarding not only their employees' and customers' vehicles, but their surroundings, And by creating a safer environment, we are one step closer to creating a town where people and nature prosper," she concluded.
For assistance with parking attendant problems, contact Steven Langlands from the Knysna Municipal Law Enforcement Department at slanglands@knysna.gov.za, or Mvuleni or Ricardo on 302 6551. Alternatively, contact Captain D Kitching or Sector 1 manager, Warrant Officer F Cowley of the Knysna SAPS on 044 302 6600.
At a recent meeting of registered parking attendants and authorities were (in the back, from left) Joseph Booysen, Bonnie Hendricks, W/O Andrew Jansen (SAPS), James Ngale, Cheryl Britz (Sector 1 CPSF chairman), Eric Nkali and Rory Ingram. In front are Mvuleni Mposelwa (Knysna Municipal Law Enforcement department), Daniel Reyneveldt, Donovan Samuels (parking attendant captains) and Ricardo Campher (Knysna Municipal Law Enforcement Department). Photo courtesy Cheryl Britz.
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