A case of crossed wires, bureaucratic dragging of heels or simply the age old left hand-right hand syndrome?
That’s the million dollar question, after lawyers acting for former SA Champion Jockey Andrew Fortune contacted the Sporting Post on Human Rights Day, to confirm that, contrary to a statement by a senior NHA official in an article published by ourselves, a formal licence application has in fact definitely been submitted to the National Horseracing Authority on behalf of their client, who is resolute in his quest of returning to a career in the saddle.
In an article ‘Andrew Fortune Comeback- NHA Outlines Licencing Process’, published on Wednesday 20 March 2024, the Sporting Post quoted the NHA’s Executive: Racing Admin Hazel Kayiya as having confirmed in writing that the racing regulator had received an ‘informal enquiry’ on 17 February 2024, ‘and not an application to licence Mr Fortune’.
Ms Kayiya said:
“Due to the short time available to consider this as the Board met on 18 February, it was decided to consider it at the next licensing meeting. All licence applications that are supported by the required documentation are considered at a licensing meeting which takes place every two months – next one is mid-April. If there is any outstanding documentation that is required, then the applicant will be notified of what is required so that the application can be assessed at the next licensing meeting.”
Not so, suggests legal counsel for Mr Fortune, who provided us with a letter dated 19 March 2024, which has been published with their permission.
The Sporting Post has in its possession an email dated 23 February 2024, addressed to Mr Fortune, wherein the Licencing Committee acknowledges receipt of his Jockey Licence Application.
Registration Clerk Samekelisiwe Mfusi confirms that ‘there are specific matters of concern which require further discussion by the members of the Licencing Committee, before any consideration can be given to the application’.
Contrary to Ms Kayiya’s advices regarding an April sitting, Ms Mfusi informs Mr Fortune that further details will be provided to him after the committee’s next sitting in the ‘second half of March 2024’.
That also raises the question as to the actual frequency of the committee sittings, as we appear to have two variations, from the two officials.
Contacted for a comment, a puzzled Andrew Fortune said that all he wanted to do was to return to race-riding, sooner rather than later.
