KwaDukuza Municipality dismisses call for EPWP audit amid ghost workers allegation
Image: File
KwaDukuza Municipality has dismissed the need for an audit of its Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) after the DA raised concern about 'ghost beneficiaries'.
DA KwaDukuza caucus leader Councillor Privi Makhan raised the party's concerns on Tuesday.
'It has come to our attention that there are growing allegations of ghost EPWP beneficiaries and unions allegedly soliciting councillors for EPWP placements in favour of their own politically connected deployees,' said Makhan.
She urged the municipality's Internal Audit Department to investigate EPWP appointments for the 2024/25 financial year and submit the findings to the Executive Committee or Full Council. 'Transparency is non-negotiable,' she said.
In response, the municipality stated that it had received no complaints or evidence of irregularities that would justify an audit. 'KwaDukuza Municipality's Internal Audit has not received any complaints and has conducted no investigations relating to the EPWP recruitment process,' the municipality said.
Regarding the DA's call, the municipality stated: 'The authority to commission an investigation into any perceived maladministration or wrongdoing vests with the Municipal Council and/or the Municipal Manager. Procedurally, a councillor cannot instruct an official to conduct an audit or an investigation of any kind as there is no empowering provision in law or policy that empowers a councillor to do so.'
The municipality further explained that the EPWP, as a poverty alleviation programme, is coordinated 'through the Office of the Speaker, in consultation with the ward councillors'.
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For years, women have fought to be heard, seen, and valued in every aspect of South African life. Yet, our country continues to fail them. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Even with democracy, their voices are still sidelined, their safety is still not guaranteed, and the systems meant to protect them are failing. GBV is not a rare occurrence; it is a daily threat. The rate of femicide is one of the highest in the world. Women are killed at five times the global average. 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