Maybe it’s more of a Gauteng thing, but here in the Cape we don’t tend to see many people washing windows at robots and intersections.

That’s something I’m rather happy about after watching this video, because no one wants to be beaten whilst sitting behind the wheel of their car.

This incident took place in Bruma, Gauteng, and was filmed by a motorist who was behind the action as it took place. The YouTube video comes with this brief description:

Have a look at what transpired with motorist who lost his temper with the infamous window washers at the traffic lights in Bruma & do not support these guys even if they intimidate you. They throw soapy water on your vehicle despite you telling them not to and then began!

The beating:

According to IOL this is far from an isolated incident:

One of the people who commented on the post was Jeanette Claassens Gaitskill, who wrote on Facebook: “I use that road every day and the Joburg metro police department have roadblocks in that area at least twice a week, but they do nothing about the window washers. I guess the window washers can’t contribute to JMPD’s bonus fund!!”

TimesLive reports that Gauteng politician Jack Bloom, a Democratic Alliance member of the provincial legislature, is leading the charge to sort out the problem:

“A Facebook post describes how another man was stabbed with a screw driver in the head‚ his injury needing three stitches‚” added Bloom…

“Many motorists approach this intersection in dread and have pepper spray or other protection at the ready”…

Bloom said that metro police “have been unable to solve” the problem for years‚ and this “despite the launch of Operation Ke Molao by the Johannesburg city council last year that was meant to combat window washers and vagrants”.

“It is clear that there are criminal elements here that need to be curbed by effective ongoing police action.”

Everyone loves a clean windscreen, but I prefer to have mine done at the petrol station where I’m not being beaten and stabbed in the head.

[sources:iol&timeslive]