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<\/p>\nA recent BusinessTech poll found that most South African motorists tip car guards R5 for keeping watch over their vehicles – but at least one in every five bite their thumb at the prospect of giving them anything at all.<\/p>\n
Car guards form part of a uniquely South African industry that was only formalised in 2009, though still operates on a largely informal basis.<\/p>\n
A sign of high rates of unemployment, it is almost impossible to park your car in a public area and not be welcomed by someone – either in a luminous vest or formal security attire – who is willing to keep an eye on your vehicle.<\/p>\n
According to the poll results, 40% of South Africans are willing to pay car guards R5 for their services, while 32% deem R2 to be enough. Only a small percentage, 6%, go over and above R10.<\/p>\n
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Car guards who work for formal companies or agencies are covered under the private security industry, and as such are entitled to a minimum wage of\u00a0between\u00a0R2,933 and R3,534 a month<\/strong>, depending on the area they work in.<\/p>\n A 2015 survey found that, in Pretoria,\u00a037% of car guards interviewed indicated they earned between R51 and R100 a day, and 34% said they earned between R101 and R150 a day.<\/p>\n However, these wages are diminished when one considers the costs involved to do the job – including the “bay fee” (up to R50 a day) \u00a0guards often have to pay just to earn anything at all.<\/p>\n Guards working through agencies are also required to hire uniforms daily (up to R30 a day), and also pay a “bay fee” to be placed in certain locations – meaning, no matter what, car guards pay to work.<\/p>\n Car guards not working through an agency often pay these fees or part thereof directly to shopping mall management.<\/p>\n After taking these costs into account, even guards earning \u201chigh\u201d amounts per month (R4,500), could potentially be thrown below minimum wage.<\/p>\n [Main image: Car Guard by\u00a0Makiwa<\/a>]<\/em><\/p>\n
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