Latest news with #CommunityWorkProgramme
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Gogta under fire for defying court order
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) is under fire for defying a court order to pay over R9 million to the Insika Foundation, one of its former implementing agents in the Community Work Programme (CWP).Legal experts now say that key department leaders — including Minister V.K. Hlabisa, Director-General Mbulelo Ntshangama, Deputy Director-General Pankie Matomela, and CWP Finance Authority Mawande Skenjana are complicit in contempt of court. Despite a binding High Court ruling and a failed appeal attempt, the Department has refused to pay the money owed, effectively collapsing the Insika Foundation and severely disrupting a programme that supports thousands of vulnerable South Africans. Court Victory, Government Defiance Insika Foundation approached the Gauteng Division of the High Court in 2024, seeking a 'mandamus' — a court order compelling COGTA to pay R9,291,633.42 for services delivered in April 2024. The Court granted the order on 12 July 2024. COGTA then tried to appeal but was dismissed with costs on 5 November 2024. The Court's ruling was clear: the Department must pay Insika with interest and attorney-client scale legal fees. Yet, the Department, led by DG Mbulelo Ntshangama, has refused to comply. Despite follow-ups and official correspondence to the Minister and his team, Insika has received no payment and no communication. This non-compliance puts COGTA in direct contempt of court, a serious legal offence that undermines the rule of law. Minister and Top Officials Now Complicit The blame now falls squarely on the leadership of the Department. Minister V.K. Hlabisa – Politically responsible and repeatedly warned about the Department's legal defiance. DG Mbulelo Ntshangama – The accounting officer, legally obligated to ensure compliance with court orders and fiscal responsibility, DDG Pankie Matomela – Head of the Community Work Programme, responsible for oversight and implementation and Mawande Skenjana** – CWP Finance Authority, tasked with ensuring payment processing and financial accountability. 'These officials are not just negligent — they are actively violating a court order,' said constitutional law analyst Adv. Thando Lekganyane. 'This opens them up to personal liability and possible criminal charges.' Collapse of Insika Foundation and CWP Fallout The Department's unlawful refusal to pay has financially destroyed the Insika Foundation, a non-profit that delivered critical community work services for COGTA. Unable to pay staff or continue operations, the organisation has shut down its work, leaving thousands of CWP participants unpaid, unsupported, and in crisis. 'We've followed the law. We won in court. Yet the government is treating us like criminals,' said Insika CEO Ziphozethu Busisiwe Matheniwa. 'Their refusal to pay has collapsed our business and left entire communities abandoned.' This isn't an isolated incident. Insika's experience reflects a broader pattern where small contractors and non-profits collapse after doing legitimate business with the government, only to be ignored or financially strangled when payment is due. CWP in Freefall: Chaos and Confusion Following the collapse of service providers like Insika, COGTA opted to 'insource' the CWP instead of renewing contracts. But internal documents show the Department was unprepared. Contracts with financial administrators and site management staff are set to expire in March 2025, with no clear plan for extension, recruitment, or budget allocation. Although the Department has requested contract extensions through DDG Matomela and Finance Authority Skenjana, delays and dysfunction persist. There is no operational clarity, and site-level staff have reported missed payments, poor communication, and a total lack of support. Legal Action Looms Insika has now signalled its intention to pursue further legal relief, including a Personal costs order for failure to comply with court rulings and a formal complaint to Parliament and the Public Protector. 'This isn't just about money anymore,' said Matheniwa. 'It's about the government's duty to respect the law — and the people who serve the country.' A Government Breaking Its Own Laws As communities go without support and legitimate service providers collapse, the silence from COGTA's leadership is deafening. For Insika Foundation and the thousands of CWP participants depending on this programme, the damage is already done. And unless the Department reverses course, the constitutional crisis may only deepen.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Gogta under fire for defying court order
The blame now falls squarely on the leadership of the Department. Minister V.K. Hlabisa. The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) is under fire for defying a court order to pay over R9 million to the Insika Foundation, one of its former implementing agents in the Community Work Programme (CWP).Legal experts now say that key department leaders — including Minister V.K. Hlabisa, Director-General Mbulelo Ntshangama, Deputy Director-General Pankie Matomela, and CWP Finance Authority Mawande Skenjana are complicit in contempt of court. Despite a binding High Court ruling and a failed appeal attempt, the Department has refused to pay the money owed, effectively collapsing the Insika Foundation and severely disrupting a programme that supports thousands of vulnerable South Africans. Court Victory, Government Defiance Insika Foundation approached the Gauteng Division of the High Court in 2024, seeking a 'mandamus' — a court order compelling COGTA to pay R9,291,633.42 for services delivered in April 2024. The Court granted the order on 12 July 2024. COGTA then tried to appeal but was dismissed with costs on 5 November 2024. The Court's ruling was clear: the Department must pay Insika with interest and attorney-client scale legal fees. Yet, the Department, led by DG Mbulelo Ntshangama, has refused to comply. Despite follow-ups and official correspondence to the Minister and his team, Insika has received no payment and no communication. This non-compliance puts COGTA in direct contempt of court, a serious legal offence that undermines the rule of law. Minister and Top Officials Now Complicit The blame now falls squarely on the leadership of the Department. Minister V.K. Hlabisa – Politically responsible and repeatedly warned about the Department's legal defiance. DG Mbulelo Ntshangama – The accounting officer, legally obligated to ensure compliance with court orders and fiscal responsibility, DDG Pankie Matomela – Head of the Community Work Programme, responsible for oversight and implementation and Mawande Skenjana** – CWP Finance Authority, tasked with ensuring payment processing and financial accountability. 'These officials are not just negligent — they are actively violating a court order,' said constitutional law analyst Adv. Thando Lekganyane. 'This opens them up to personal liability and possible criminal charges.' Collapse of Insika Foundation and CWP Fallout The Department's unlawful refusal to pay has financially destroyed the Insika Foundation, a non-profit that delivered critical community work services for COGTA. Unable to pay staff or continue operations, the organisation has shut down its work, leaving thousands of CWP participants unpaid, unsupported, and in crisis. 'We've followed the law. We won in court. Yet the government is treating us like criminals,' said Insika CEO Ziphozethu Busisiwe Matheniwa. 'Their refusal to pay has collapsed our business and left entire communities abandoned.' This isn't an isolated incident. Insika's experience reflects a broader pattern where small contractors and non-profits collapse after doing legitimate business with the government, only to be ignored or financially strangled when payment is due. CWP in Freefall: Chaos and Confusion Following the collapse of service providers like Insika, COGTA opted to 'insource' the CWP instead of renewing contracts. But internal documents show the Department was unprepared. Contracts with financial administrators and site management staff are set to expire in March 2025, with no clear plan for extension, recruitment, or budget allocation. Although the Department has requested contract extensions through DDG Matomela and Finance Authority Skenjana, delays and dysfunction persist. There is no operational clarity, and site-level staff have reported missed payments, poor communication, and a total lack of support. Legal Action Looms Insika has now signalled its intention to pursue further legal relief, including a Personal costs order for failure to comply with court rulings and a formal complaint to Parliament and the Public Protector. 'This isn't just about money anymore,' said Matheniwa. 'It's about the government's duty to respect the law — and the people who serve the country.' A Government Breaking Its Own Laws As communities go without support and legitimate service providers collapse, the silence from COGTA's leadership is deafening. For Insika Foundation and the thousands of CWP participants depending on this programme, the damage is already done. And unless the Department reverses course, the constitutional crisis may only deepen.
IOL News
26-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
COGTA defies order to pay over R9m
Legal experts now say that key department leaders — including Minister V.K. Hlabisa, Director-General Mbulelo Ntshangama, Deputy Director-General Pankie Matomela, and CWP Finance Authority Mawande Skenjana are complicit in contempt of court. The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) is under fire for defying a court order to pay over R9 million to the Insika Foundation, one of its former implementing agents in the Community Work Programme (CWP). Legal experts now say that key department leaders — including Minister V.K. Hlabisa, Director-General Mbulelo Ntshangama, Deputy Director-General Pankie Matomela, and CWP Finance Authority Mawande Skenjana are complicit in contempt of court. Despite a binding High Court ruling and a failed appeal attempt, the Department has refused to pay the money owed, effectively collapsing the Insika Foundation and severely disrupting a programme that supports thousands of vulnerable South Africans. Court Victory, Government Defiance Insika Foundation approached the Gauteng Division of the High Court in 2024, seeking a 'mandamus' — a court order compelling COGTA to pay R9,291,633.42 for services delivered in April 2024. The Court granted the order on 12 July 2024. COGTA then tried to appeal but was dismissed with costs on 5 November 2024. The Court's ruling was clear: the Department must pay Insika with interest and attorney-client scale legal fees. Yet, the Department, led by DG Mbulelo Ntshangama, has refused to comply. Despite follow-ups and official correspondence to the Minister and his team, Insika has received no payment and no communication. This non-compliance puts COGTA in direct contempt of court, a serious legal offence that undermines the rule of law.
IOL News
22-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Government takes action on Community Work Programme amid national minimum wage demands
The Department of Cooperative Governance says a review is under way in the Community Work Programme after participants demanded to be paid the national minimum wage. Image: Lerato Selepe The government is reviewing its public employment initiatives, such as the Community Work Programme (CWP), as employees are demanding to be paid in terms of the national minimum wage. This has emerged from communication sent by the Department of Cooperative Governance director-general Mbulelo Tshangana, earlier this month in response to demands for the national minimum wage to be implemented in the CWP. 'The department (Cooperative Governance) is part of discussions that are led by the Department of Employment and Labour about the future of public employment programmes, which are funded through the national fiscus. 'The issue of minimum wage forms part of that review and outcomes will be communicated once such processes have been concluded,' he told CWP management, staff at site, district and provincial level, participants and financial administrators in a circular dated May 9. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ After Tshangana approved adjustments of between 5% and 7% effective from last month, stipends for participants are set at R120 a day, while supervisors receive R144 daily. Site administrators, safety officers, district managers, financial administrators, and provincial managers can be paid between R315 and R1,500 a day. The national minimum wage is nearly double the stipend paid to each CWP participant at about R29 an hour (or R230 a day). According to the Department of Employment and Labour, workers employed in another public employment initiative, the Expanded Public Works Programme, are entitled to a minimum wage of just under R16 an hour. Delivering the Budget on Wednesday, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana allocated the CWP R10.3 billion, of which an estimated 70% (or R7.2bn) is set aside for participants' stipends and the remainder for items such as tools and materials, protective clothing, training, professional services, and programme overheads. The Department of Cooperative Governance plans to maintain the number of CWP participants in the programme at 178,860 over the next three financial years. The CWP was set up to foster social and economic inclusion by providing individuals with a source of income in targeted high-unemployment areas. It also offers participants valuable work experience, which the government hoped could significantly increase their access to broader career opportunities when they exit the programme. Earlier this year, participants aged 60 years and above were informed that their contracts were extended for a period of four months last month to the end of July and will not be renewed. 'The last payment will therefore be (on) August 25, 2025. All participants reaching an age of 60 years will be automatically exited from the programme as from August 1, 2025, in compliance with CWP implementation policy,' Tshangana reminded them.
