Recently, when the Old Bus Shed at the corner of Goldman Street and Westlake Avenue was demolished, it came to the Record’s attention that the property that is used by driving instructors to train their students is being run by pirate enterprises charging these academies for the use of the ‘facility’.
The two ‘businessmen’ at the head of the operation are Dino Jorhaan and Naaim Smalls, owners of driving schools themselves. They insisted on speaking to the Record to clarify their side of the story.
Jorhaan tells the Record that it was agreed among all the driving schools that each would pay a monthly fee of R200 for unlimited use, and that private users will pay R50 per hour. These monies, he insists, are not for personal enrichment and only go towards the maintenance of the property, which includes painted replicas of the lines at the actual testing station, the poles that are used and the payment of a ‘gate attendant’ and general worker. According to Jorhaan they only earn between R2 500 and R3 000 a month to cover all these costs.
Jorhaan also says that when he discussed the project with the Councillor for the area, Dave Dewes, he picked up racist innuendos and alleges that Dewes said they could use the land at a cost of R1 500 towards him. They stated this in the proposal they presented to Dewes. Jorhaan and Smalls also claim that Joburg Property Company (JPC) manager for the area, Mpho Motloung has given them permission to run their operation, but that she has indicated that when the land goes up for tender they can go through the normal tender process to lease the land. In the meantime once she receives a proposal from them she can grant them a use agreement, which means that Jorhaan and Smalls also may build seating, a car wash and have a food caravan if they fence it in.
However, Motloung says that the men do not have permission to operate there and even the structures and alterations (poles and paintings) are illegal. She did admit that should she receive their proposal, JPC “might grant a use agreement”. She says the City only tolerates the activities because the premises is kept clean and it prevents the previous dumping problem. She told the Record that the site definitely is earmarked for a development bigger than a driving academy. Motloung also says that though the City appreciates that the grounds are being maintained, the driving academy ultimately benefits individuals and not the City
Dewes maintains that he never received a proposal from them and that they have manipulated his “R1 500” remark. According to Dewes he told Jorhaan and Smalls that if they use it they must contribute at least R1 500 for the upliftment of Florida and definitely not for his own pocket. He challenged Jorhaan and Smalls (para-municipal service entity?) to provide proof that they emailed him the proposal.
The Record is awaiting proof of these emails from Jorhaan.
