KNYSNA NEWS - A car guard screams and shouts in the street somewhere. All you can hear is one long list of expletives pouring from his mouth.
Words that even the scruffiest sailor wouldn’t dare utter.
That is the reality of a situation that played out in Queen Street recently, just outside the Knysna-Plett Herald (KPH) offices, a situation that many residents who work, live or shop in the CBD experience almost every day.
In this specific situation, editor Elaine King and Stefan Goosen tried approaching the man to calm him down, to see if he needed any help.
He point blank refused any help, saying he just wanted to be left alone.
King tried getting his name, his reason for being there and why he was ranting, but nothing. It almost seemed as though that is just the way he wanted to be.
But what can residents actually do in a situation like this, or one that becomes physically violent?
According to Knysna police spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies, most of these types of incidents are related to public drunkenness or riotous behaviour, and he urges people to report any illegal activities or unlawful conduct to the police.
“Every case will be dealt with on its own merits. A number of cases were also opened and arrests effected in the past,” he said.
“The safety of residents, visitors and their property remains our priority and the Knysna SAPS will continue to work with the municipality, CPF and any other role-players to address the issues with regard to parking attendants in Knysna.”
Ashley Boëtius, spokesperson for AllSound Security in Knysna, knows what a touchy subject car guards in Knysna can be, and believes the Knysna-Plett Herald team had a run-in with a person her team knows well.
“I believe the guy you are referring to frequently plays up, depending on his level of drug intoxication, and is prone to outright threaten motorists to extort payment,” she says.
What can be done
Motorists and shoppers can open a case of crimen injuria if are verbally assaulted or, if a car guard harms their vehicle, a case of malicious damage to property can be opened, she points out.
“Fines can be imposed by SAPS but these will most likely not be paid. If fines are not paid, the offender will have to go before court and the process then lies with prosecutors.
"If a business owner has proof of repeat incidents of causing disturbances or nuisance behaviour, they also have the option of applying for a court interdict prohibiting the offender of coming within a certain distance of their premises.
"Failure to comply will then be escalated through the legal system. None of these is likely to bring immediate resolution,” she says, but adds that persistence should pay off.
According to Boëtius, AllSound can only do so much.
“We are able to assist in the removal of nuisance persons from a client’s property, but not from public spaces such as roads or pavements. We can request them to move along but cannot force them to obey.”
Boëtius says AllSound responds to an average of 15 calls a week about car guards.
“Sometimes the offender is compliant and moves along, other times they may be more obstinate – and it often depends on the level of intoxication,” she says.
“The reality is that they would not be there if they were not remunerated for what they're doing; many of them don’t cause problems, they just park cars.
An example of an illegal car guard completing one of his daily duties. This was taken in Sedgefield earlier this year after a car guard attacked the Knysna protection services manager Steven Langlands. This particular "car guard" in the photo was not the culprit, but has also been a hassle to residents.
"Nights are a particular problem as many of the illegal parking attendants are known criminals, but without proper enforcement or monitoring at night, there is little or no repercussion.
"It has been repeatedly published in the media not to tip anyone other than the 'red bib' parking attendants, but this will never stop. Tourists are regularly seen tipping so the ‘illegals’ will not go away,” she adds.
Boëtius says that without a bylaw in place and the manpower to police it, “this is not a problem expected to be resolved anytime soon”.
ARTICLE & PHOTOS: STEFAN GOOSEN, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD JOURNALIST
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