The Car Guard Chronicles

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style="">Ackwell is from Chipinge in Zimbabwe. He now lives in olievenhoutbosch, He has a wife back home and a little baby that is only 5 months old. His son’s name is Gamuchirai, his name means Accept. His wife,sister and child live together with his mother in Zimbabwe, his mother is 69 years old and he tell me that she is the strongest woman he knows.</span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style=""><span class="wixGuard">​</span></span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style="">He came to South Africa in 2007 and became a car guard. I asked him why a car guard and he told me with a obvious voice that it is the only thing he can do as he doesn't have ‘papers’. He has no choice at the moment he needs to care for his family and obtaining papers without an invitation of work is almost impossible. He told me that he visits his family as much as he can. I asked him if they don't ask questions at the border when he comes and goes, and he said that he has a passport so he can just come and go. a taxi back home costs him R550 one way. He said he cant take the taxi all the way in because the ‘thotsies’ when they come in to Zimbabwe, so he takes a bus from the border. I asked him what he thinks about the situation in Zim at the moment, Ackwell looked at me and said “nothing has changed since 2008”. He also told me that more and more Zimbabweans are coming over as there is no work for them over there. I asked why South Africa, I myself dont always understand as we have so many struggles in this country related to joblessness, I asked him why not Botswana or another neighbouring country? When he replied he looked exhausted as if he had gone through all the options in his head a million times. He told me straight what he thought about Botswana “that country is too small”. When he visits home he tries to stay for a month, the rest of the time he works everyday to save money.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style=""><span class="wixGuard">​</span></span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style="">Before he started working here at this spot in John Voster behind at the Sport shop area, he worked at Builders Warehouse. He said there were too many guards there and there wasn't enough money to be made. He smiled and told me how it was difficult to make the move as when he started here he was allocated to this spot and it was called a “dead area” under the guards, nobody wanted to work here. The other guards all rotate to keep it fair, almost they way they rotate waiter sections at Restaurants to keep everyone happy. Ackwell wasn't allowed to rotate, this was part of his agreement when he started here. He laughed and told me how proud he is that he’s spot is now very popular and how he ‘advertised’ so people would park there. Of course he is sticking to his guns and doesn't want to rotate, he said all the guards are wanting too swap with him these days.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style="">He starts at 8am in the mornings and makes sure the lot is tidy.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style=""><span class="wixGuard">​</span></span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style=""><span class="wixGuard">​</span>I asked him what was the worst part of this job, he told me how some people arrive there angry or upset from something that happened before they got here. “someone once even tried to bump me with their car”, I asked him how he deals with that kind of behavior, he said that he just ignores them until they go away..</span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style="">While we were chatting he interrupted the conversation by saying “ let me help these guys to come out, wait for me” I could tell that he took his job seriously and I respected him for that.</span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style="">He came back and pointed to an office park in the distance, “a man working there had offered me a job as a driver for that company”,he told me.&nbsp; He explained how he was saving up to go and do his license back in Zimbabwe. He seemed determined. I asked him how much it would cost him and how much he has saved up so far.&nbsp; He told me how its expensive and with traveling back and lessons and all it would be wise for him to save up a thousand american dollars, he added that Zimbabwe now use the US $ as currency and had a strange look when he said it, almost as if he was embarrassed. He said that he had saved up R8k so far, but with the Rand being so weak against the Dollar he has been set back even more. I looked at him wondering how on earth he managed to save up so much already and I realized that this was something he had to do, he had no choice. This determination made me so aware of how you can make it happen if you really wanted to even if life had given you no open doors. Did I mention that Ackwell is 27. I found myself thinking very highly of him. When I was 27 my biggest struggle was over some boy and how I didn't feel like doing my college ‘homework’.</span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style="">Piet was born and bred in Tembisa, a large township situated to the north of Kempton Park. He told me in a proud voice that he was born at the Tembisa Hospital. Piet is 36, merely a few years older than me. Piet told me that his parents didn't have enough money to take care of him growing up and that he went to live with his grand parents when he started school. He shared some of his memories growing up in a village in Polokwane with me. He had a few good memories here and there and spoke of his grandfather fondly “ that was a good mandala, he always took care of me”. He told me that his grandfather was a bus driver and how he always wished that he could ride on the bus with him but never did. His&nbsp; grand parents looked after a few children and they used to do everything together, “ we go everywhere together always” he told me. Then Piet told me that he never liked living in the village, “ I was a city boy, I missed the city” he explained that back then it was very different in the village where he grew up. He told me how they had to make a fire to cook every meal, and how far they had to walk (+-2km) to get water. “Things have changed now” he laughed.</span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style="">Piet returned to Tembisa when he finished school.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style="">Piet has been a car guard for 5 years. Before he became a car guard, he used to work as a painter, waterproofer on a project based contract. When the contract ended and no new work came in his friend suggested that he become a car guard, and so he did.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style="">Piet has a child called Gift he is 6 years old&nbsp; and he lives in Polokwane with his Mother. Piet’s ex. He explains that they were never married and that he was young. The last time he saw his child was in 2014, but he tells me that he calls often and that his sister lives close-by his son.</span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style="">I asked him what he does to stay warm while he watches cars all day (it was freezing when we spoke), he told me that they have a kettle to boil warm water but that he needs to bring his own coffee, milk and sugar if he wants to drink something.</span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style="">I asked him if anything made him angry in the last week here in the parking lot. He responded with;“ Some people I see each and every day and each and everyday I show them parking spots but they cant even give me a sent,even R1 is something”</span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style="">He then told me that other people make up for this by paying him a monthly fee.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style="">I asked him if he would like an instant photo of himself and asked him when was the last time he had his photo taken. To my surprise he told me that his uncle had a party for his child in Tembisa last month and he hired a photographer, he said that they were just waiting for the pictures.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style="">I took a photo of him and he loved it.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style="">This is Richard. Richard was a close friend and colleague of Andries. I have been back to see him a few times to find out more about the night that Mandala’s life was taken and to give him the photograph. Richard has orchestrated all the guards to chip in and contribute something towards the funeral. In my experience I found him to be a very sensitive and sweet soul. There was something in his eyes that felt familiar. I am grateful for the kindness that Richard showed me and how he has kept me in the loop.</span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style=""><span class="wixGuard">​</span></span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style="">Richard has been working here at the Bylsbridge PnP for over 10 years. He tells me again how shocked he was when ‘Mandala’ didn't show up for work, he also said “ I am not feeling oriaat “ he is very saddened by this loss he has known Andries for 6 years and he tells me that he was a good man an how he always uplifted everyone during hard times.</span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style=""><span class="wixGuard">​</span></span></p>

<p class="font_7" style=""><span style="">Richard originally comes from Chipinge, Zimbabwe. He used to work for Zimplats , platinum mining group in Zimbabwe.&nbsp; Richard is 34, married with 3 small children, he first came over to South Africa in 2006. His wife and children still live in Zimbabwe. Richard tells me how expensive it is to get passports for all the children but that he would love for them to join him in South Africa. He visits them every 4months. The rest of the time he works 7 days and has off on the 8th day then starts over again. I asked Richard what he does on his off days he told me ”I practice driving, I want to become a cab driver”. He tells me that he is attempting his license soon.&nbsp;</span></p>