GEORGE NEWS - In a matter of just four months, George Traffic Chief Donovan Saptoe is facing yet another precautionary suspension.
Saptoe received a signed letter from Municipal Manager Trevor Botha yesterday morning, 23 October, stating the municipality's intention to suspend him. Saptoe has until tomorrow to give reasons why he should not be suspended.
Saptoe's alleged misconduct includes refusal to obey lawful and reasonable instructions from the director of protection services, Steven Erasmus, and conduct that is deemed to be undermining the operations of the directorate.
After receipt of Saptoe's representations, a decision will be made whether to suspend him or not.
During the previous attempt to suspend Saptoe in July, "various cases of misconduct" were reportedly stated as reasons without specifying their exact nature. At the time the outcome of Saptoe's suspension hearing proved positive for the traffic chief. It was found that there was no reasonable possibility that Saptoe's presence in office posed a risk to the ongoing investigation against him.
The first effort to suspend Saptoe followed after he made a written statement at the George police station in June,
raising concerns about a five-year license permit for charter services that was issued to a director of George Link in April this year. Saptoe requested a forensic investigation into the permit of this director [name withheld] and the involvement of provincial officials.
When asked for comment about the latest suspension letter, Saptoe would only say the following: "I am giving my full cooperation to the investigators that are here from Province, and I am positive that I will be vindicated in all this mess."
The investigation by Province that Saptoe refers to, is believed to be the investigation into the George Integrated Transport Network (GIPTN) and other issues at the George Municipality, ordered by Western Cape Local Government MEC, Minister Anton Bredell.
Several officials are being interviewed by the investigators. Following a request for comment, municipal spokesperson Chantel Edwards-Klose replied that the municipality does not comment on internal disciplinary matters relating to officials.
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