16 Nov 2020

A good number of people are making a living by guarding vehicles in parking spaces while the owners are at work or running errands. There is no set charge for the service provided as it depends on how much the vehicle owner is willing to offer the guard.

This informal sector like all the other sectors has  been negatively affected by COVID-19 pandemic.

In an interview with BOPA recently, a car guard at Gaborone main mall, Mr Tumelo Dikganyane shared how he joined the sector as well as how COVID-19 affected him. He indicated that he came to Gaborone in 2001 to look for a job and worked as a security guard for a year before venturing into car guarding.

Mr Dikganyane indicated that he managed to take care of his family with the little he got from guarding cars. “I have a daughter that I raised with proceeds from this trade, from birth up to now. She is now a first year university student and I also have a son who is in standard five,” he added.

He said COVID-19 pandemic had negatively affected them, adding that he could no longer provide for his family like before.

Mr Dikganyane explained that he had clients who pay him at the end of the month while some pay him daily, noting that since the pandemic they experienced low number of clients hence low income.

He said some of their regular clients now work from home, some lost their jobs and a good number of those who come did not pay, citing lack of funds due to COVID-19 effects.

“We depend on people who park here, if they lost their jobs or they are being given half salaries or work from home, it means we would not have an income,” he said.

He highlighted that Gaborone City Council should give them the right to formally run the parking spaces so that everyone who park pays a certain fee. “Alternatively the city council could take control of these spaces and employ us to work here,” he said.

He said the police and the general public appreciate their efforts, since the number of car break-ins and other related crimes in parking spaces had drastically reduced.

Mr Dikganyane noted that the current situation had taught him to use money wisely and create other forms of income.

Another car guard, Mr Bakani Zhibi indicated that in 2001, the economic conditions drove him into the sector and his life as well as that of his family improved.

He said during the last few years, he used to make at least an average of P150 a day, while during the pandemic he made less than half of that amount. Mr Bakani said very few people now used their services, which meant that he was now making only enough for food.

“I struggle to pay my rent and even to take care of my family like before,” he said.

Mr Otshepeng Moleta from Metlobo said he started this informal job to avoid crime life, adding that he managed to pay his rent and take care of his family, such as paying school fees for his children.

He said it took Batswana some time to appreciate what they were doing, noting that after realising that because of their presence in parking spaces, crime decreased, people started acknowledging them.

Mr Molete said since COVID-19 pandemic, he failed to make at least P50 in a day because their clients were also affected, adding that they should also be assisted by government during these difficult times.

He highlighted that even though the pandemic came with negative effects, he learnt some valuable lesson, adding ‘COVID-19 is an eye opener for me, I learnt that I should not rely on one source of income’.

Managing director of Big Flag Pty Ltd, Mr Brink Ramoleele who is a regular customer at one of the parking areas in main mall said, it was time for the city council to support car guards. He said they should be given the opportunity to run the parking areas and pay a certain fee to the government.

“This could be a source of income for the council and employ a good number of people,” he said. He indicated that he had been a customer for many years and the car guards were doing a very good job.

Mr Ramoleele said ever since the car guards started, there was no crime in parking areas. “When there is no space for you to park and you are running late, you easily leave your car with them and they locate a parking space and safely park it. That is how important and reliable they are,” he added.

Gaborone City Council public relations officer, Ms Segametsi Kebonang indicated that there were plans to practice management of parking bays by modelling one of the parking sites for paid parking.

Regarding the city’s relations with car guards, she said G.C.C currently had no connection with the car guards.

She however noted that the car guards were part of the informal traders which council was responsible for regulating. Council does not have any plans to disorientate the car guards, but rather to look into ways in which the informal traders could be regulated for them to operate in a regulated manner, she said. Ends