GEORGE NEWS - George Municipality has responded to the George Community Forum (GCF) press release in which a number of allegations were made against the municipality and government in relation to issues of public transport in George.
One of the issues mentioned in the document concerns the so-called Brasika report, which highlights irregularities within the GIPTN, the organisation in control of the Go George project.
The GCF said it has come to learn that this report has been in existence for two years, and alleges that George Municipality was trying to hide it from the public.
"If the Municipality is serious about service delivery, why is it still hiding this report and why is it trying to shelve the report without calling a forensic investigation so the truth can come out," the statement reads.
It also says that the GCF has "brought the author of the report to come and explain what is happening inside this report", but says the attempt was "blocked by government".
In response to these allegations and other issues relating to the roll-out of Phase 4B of the Go George bus service, municipal spokesperson Chantel Edwards-Klose said George Municipality can confirm that a platform has been created by all three spheres of government, being the National Department of Transport, the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works, and the George Municipality, within which to engage with the George Community Forum (GCF).
As such, Government has already held several engagements with GCF to discuss their concerns.
"Government takes this process seriously and recognises the importance of these concerns and that is why Government has created a platform within which to engage and not through the media. Certain concerns in the press statement from GCF deal with matters related to the taxi industry. Government has been very clear with GCF that taxi related matters are being dealt with in a separate platform between Government and the taxi industry affected," said Edwards-Klose.
Edwards-Klose confirmed that the Brasika Report is to be tabled at a special council meeting, saying no comment can be made at this time related to the concerns of the author of the report being prevented from "presenting" the report to the GCF.
"Unfortunately not all the facts were presented in the press statement by GCF and at this stage this matter is in the legal domain. Government remains committed to providing a quality public transport service to all communities of George, and will continue to act in the best interest of our citizens to ensure that the benefits of such a service are experienced by all," she said.
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