In a bid to prevent the harassment and exploitation of visitors to Stellenbosch central business district (CBD), the Winelands Safety Initiative (WSI), a prominent non-profit organisation, launched an informal parking attendant / car guard project in Stellenbosch on Wednesday 21 June.
This groundbreaking collaboration with the Stellenbosch Municipality, Visit Stellenbosch, the South African Police Service and leading private security companies ABC and AM aim to address the pressing issue of informal parking attendants who have harassed and exploited visitors due to their lack of knowledge of parking regulations.
The primary objective, according to the WSI, is to enhance security and provide a safer environment for both residents and visitors to the Stellenbosch CBD.
About 40 highly vetted guards, all screened for criminal records, will be strategically deployed throughout Stellenbosch’s business centre. “These dedicated attendants will assist motorists with parking, diligently monitor their areas for any suspicious-looking activities and promptly report such incidents to the municipal operational control centre as well as the control centers of ABC and AM,” André Pelser of WSI said.
To ensure their visibility, guards will be equipped with reflective bibs bearing the logos of WSI, the municipality and Visit Stellenbosch. “The words ‘Parking Attendant’ will be prominently displayed on the back of the bibs, along with the municipal control room number, while attendant IDs will be visibly displayed on their chests,” Pelser said. “Attendants will also be provided with raincoats, caps, and the Buzzer community safety app (buzzer-app.co.za), facilitating seamless and structured communication between attendants and their security partners. All have completed comprehensive training on public interaction, area monitoring and reporting suspicious activities.”
To emphasise community involvement, most of the guards are from Kayamandi, additional participants hailing from the Stellenbosch Shelter and local street communities. The attendants’ income will primarily come from motorists and surrounding businesses. “To reduce their vulnerability to robberies, WSI is assisting attendants to download bank apps on their cellphones for cashless transactions, an alternative to traditional cash payments.”
In addition, partnering security companies have expressed their intent to consider outstanding attendants for potential employment opportunities, rewarding those who excel in their security duties.
“This innovative project represents a collaborative effort to address security challenges, improve visitor experiences, and empower the Stellenbosch community. By enhancing the professionalism and effectiveness of informal parking attendants, the initiative aims to create a secure and welcoming environment for all.”
