GEORGE NEWS - Go George remains in discussion with Uncedo. That is the message from George Municipality after Uncedo released a statement in reaction to the news that the Go George bus service will be expanding its service to Thembalethu in November.

In the statement released by Zuko Doyi on behalf of Uncedo George, it states they are very unhappy with the municipality's announcement of the rollout while negotiations with local government are still in progress.

Doyi said no agreement had been reached due to certain complaints.

Chantèl Edwards, spokesperson of George municipality, said Go George is actively working, together with all key stakeholders, on all aspects of the upcoming rollout for Phase 4, Thembalethu and is expecting a successful rollout of the long-awaited service to residents.

According to her, Uncedo National supported the rollout to Phase 4 and has issued a letter to Government. As Government they have been engaging with Uncedo for months, and on some issues for years, towards a rollout in Thembalethu.

Lesley Philemon, spokesperson for Uncedo National, yesterday (Wednesday 26 October) confirmed to George Herald that discussions are ongoing.

He stressed that Uncedo is not against a rollout, but that Uncedo is concerned that the organisation was never part of how the rollout is going to take place. There are still unfinished matters and the discussions are ongoing. "We are all negotiating in good faith."

Earlier Uncedo George stated their list of grievances as follows:

1. Late renewals;

2. Competition with buses (George);

3. Sliding scale on operating licences;

4. Routes that were relinquished without payments;

5. Limiting of operating licences where only one member was issued with one operating licence instead of four. Uncedo is still in need of the three operating licences.

6. Incorrect procedures during impoundment.

7. Surveying on the Themablethu Bridge which was concluded in 2019, not all of the above were agreed and laid out on the table. No feedback has been given to the association.

Adressing the issues raised, Edwards responded:

Late renewals
This is a concern where operating licences lapse or expire and operators are not able to renew the licence. Government has arranged for these operators to meet with the provincial regulatory entity (PRE) to attend to these complaints and the individual operators have neglected to come forward.

Competition with the buses
All legal operating licence holders (who did not exercise any buy-in or buy-out option) will be allowed to compete in line with the routes on their operating licence. Government is expecting those operators that have signed agreements with government to honour those agreements.

Sliding scale on operating licences
The issue of sliding scale has been discussed and clarified with Uncedo on various occasions. This concept was introduced by the industry members during negotiation and signed off by all representatives of all associations in George in 2012.

Routes that were relinquished without payment
The issue has been discussed in task teams for many years, where certain Uncedo members felt that they were misled into signing agreements with government for all their GIPTN (George Integrated Public Transport Network) routes and not 880, as they believed. Government has shown again and again that the compensation agreement listed each route that would be removed, and those routes were removed upon relinquishment of the licence.

Limitation of operating licences
This statement seems to be in relation to one member with a discrepancy in their operating licences and this member is encouraged to come to the PRE so that they can be assisted.

Incorrect impoundment
Impoundments are a function of law enforcement and law enforcement will impound any vehicle that does not have a valid operating licence, or is operating outside the routes of that licence.

Surveying on Thembalethu Bridge
The results of the survey on the Thembalethu Bridge that was conducted in 2019 have been shared with Uncedo many times in past engagements. Government is willing to share it again in the next engagement.

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