GEORGE NEWS - A five-year permit for charter services, issued to a director of George Link in April this year, has become a red hot potato. With a moratorium on the issuing of new permits for all local taxi services in place since 2009, the approval of this director's application - the second one after his first application in October last year was declined - lifted some eyebrows.
Even more so if taken into account that, of other applications for providing the exact same service, one was declined and those that were approved were only for two years.
The head of George Traffic, Donovan Saptoe, has made an affidavit at the George police station, stating his concern in the matter - especially since the director's first application was declined by his department.
The director's second application, which was approved by the Western Cape Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE), wasn't channelled through the local traffic department.
The PRE is responsible for matters relating to operating licenses, including taking decisions on whether operating licenses should be granted or not and the duration for which they are granted. Decisions made by the entity are made by a panel of adjudicators and these decisions are made independently. However, it is standard procedure that guidance by the municipal traffic department is taken very seriously.
In the affidavit, which the George Herald is privy to,
Saptoe requests a forensic investigation into the permit of this director (name withheld) and the involvement of provincial officials. When asked for comment, Saptoe said, "I have informed the municipality about a permit".
He declined any further comment.
The provincial police spokesperson, Capt Malcolm Pojie, confirmed that an affidavit which involves the issuing of a permit has been made by a senior official of George Municipality and that a charge of fraud has been opened.
"Detectives from our Eden Cluster office are investigating the allegations in the affidavit. No arrests have been made. The case will be thoroughly investigated and submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for a decision."
An enquiry was sent to the Provincial Department of Transport on whether a five-year permit has recently been issued to a director of George Link. Spokesperson Byron la Hoe explained the role of the PRE and directed the enquiry to the PRE chairperson, Mark Skriker, who undertook to provide comment, but nothing was received at the time of going to print.
Municipal spokesperson Chantel Edwards-Klose said George Municipality is not aware of any affidavit issued under the name of the municipality or any representative thereof in an official capacity.
The George Herald contacted the director for comment. He said the local traffic department "has no jurisdiction over charter routes, which is his specialty". The permit issued will enable him to provide long-distance charter services from George to the rest of South Africa.
"I'm in favour of the GIPTN and will not provide services on their routes. My first application was declined because I was not there myself to provide a motivation. For the second application I was there in person."
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