GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The Graaff-Reinet Community Safety Initiative (GVE - Graaff-Reinet Veiligheidseenheid) is in the process of training car guards to be tourist-friendly, dressed neatly, to learn communication skills and to be trustworthy. 

This is not only to promote the tourism industry, but to make the Graaff-Reinet community feel safer.

Five experienced car guards, as an interim process, were given reflector jackets sponsored by the GVE group and Mr Paint in Church Street.

Johann Harmse, an executive member of the GVE group, said the whole process is just at a trial stage. "While we are trying to get the whole process up and running, we gave five car guards vests to make them better identifiable. The training process will follow as the program is implemented to perfection," said Harmse.

Adriaan Mahiti, one of the five wearing a GVR vest, said he is very positive about the whole initiative. He said by just wearing the vest he was identified as a trustworthy car guard. Mahiti said he sometimes had to sleep outside without food, but now he can take home money each day to feed him and his family. He said the community needs to see a name on the jacket, otherwise, they chase the guards away. "Now they give us a tip," he said.

The GVE group has more than 100 members, fighting for a safer town.

'We bring you the latest Graaff-Reinet, Karoo news'