Latest news with #EmfuleniMunicipality
The Star
20-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Emfuleni's job raffle causes quite a stir
IN A controversial approach to reduce unemployment, Emfuleni Municipality recently organised a job raffle, which it claims provides equal opportunity. However, this initiative has led to public outcry over issues of fairness and transparency. The selection process was held at the Sebokeng Driving Licence Testing Centre (DLTC), where hundreds of hopeful job seekers lined up in queues so long they resembled an election day, all anxiously waiting to hear if their names would be drawn in the lottery-style selection process. A boy was asked to pick out the lucky names. The job raffle, intended to fill just 100 general worker positions for residents of Wards 36 and 37, follows the Gauteng Department of Transport's recent allocation of R138 million to fast-track the long-overdue completion of the Sebokeng Driving Licence Testing Centre (DLTC). Watch the video here: Many residents expressed frustration over the unexpected shift in the application process, explaining that they were originally told to hand in their CVs and qualifications sealed in envelopes at the Sebokeng DLTC. A resident from Zone 7, speaking on condition of anonymity, shared her deep frustration and disappointment with how the job raffle was handled. She explained that when news of the general worker positions broke, she followed every instruction carefully, submitting her CV in a brown envelope along with certified copies of her qualifications, just as required. She used what little money she had to make copies, get them certified, and purchase an envelope, hopeful that her dedication and qualifications would improve her chances of being selected. 'I was excited and hopeful. As a mother of three, it's hard watching your children grow up without the stability of a steady income. I thought this was finally my chance,' she said, her voice breaking. 'But it felt like all that effort was wasted. We were later told to just write our names on a piece of paper and drop it in a box, like a lucky draw. It was heartbreaking. I had hoped that my qualifications and my willingness to work would count for something.' She also questioned the fairness of the selection process, expressing frustration that some of the individuals chosen appeared unfit, uninterested, or too old to perform the required duties. Pearl also voiced concerns about gender inequality in the selection process, stating that the outcome appeared to heavily favour men. She was particularly frustrated by the method used, where the young boy was tasked with drawing names from a box and handing them to the councillors, who then called them out, raising questions about transparency and fairness. 'Out of the 100 selected candidates, only 23 were females, while the remaining 77 were males. This doesn't reflect a fair or balanced opportunity for women, especially when many of us are equally qualified and just as desperate for work,' she added. Tshepang Motaung, a resident of Ward 36 and a struggling father of five, also echoed Pearl's concerns. He expressed deep disappointment with the outcome of the job raffle, saying that despite having multiple qualifications and years of work experience, he was still overlooked. Finance MMC and Ward 37 Councillor Hassan Mako told The Star that the raffle process was conducted transparently and fairly, ensuring inclusivity for all community members. Mako explained that he and Ward 36 Councillor Mpho Kodisang jointly decided the job raffle was the fairest approach, aiming to prevent any allegations of interference in the recruitment process. 'The raffle process was a decision agreed upon by both Councillor Kodisang from Ward 36 and me, Councillor Mako from Ward 37. We believe it was a transparent approach for the community. As councillors, we chose not to handle any CVs or be involved in the recruitment beyond the raffle itself. I firmly believe the process was fair, transparent, and inclusive of all community members.' He refuted claims made by *Pearl regarding gender inequality in the selection process, stating that more women than men were selected through the raffle. 'It is not true that there are gender issues. The majority of the people who came through the raffle were women, so that thing is a miss,' he said. Mako dismissed concerns about qualifications, stating that general labour roles typically don't require academic credentials or interviews, unless the job involves specific safety risks. 'Issues of educational experience. In general, labour, I don't think that counts, unless we need a risk…This is how we felt that things could be done, as far as I'm concerned, the community is happy. General labourers do not even have to go for interviews,' he added. He also said that he had not received any complaints from residents about the job raffle process, adding that any concerns could be addressed through the appropriate channels. Kingsol Chabalala, the DA's constituency head for Emfuleni North, echoed Mako's views, stating that the job raffle was a transparent process: 'Emfuleni has long been plagued by nepotism, with political leaders often appointing their relatives and friends. This system helps prevent that,' Chabalala said. However, Chabalala added: 'While I agree with the process, I don't believe pensioners should be considered when young people are still struggling to find work,' he said. He added that although age should not completely disqualify someone, pensioners already receive government social grants and should not take up job opportunities meant to empower the youth. While Emfuleni's job raffle was a first for the municipality, it's not the first time this method has caused tension. In August 2024, a similar incident in Bloemhof, North West, turned chaotic when an ANC ward councillor, Willie Adams, was attacked by angry community members. The councillor had been overseeing a job raffle to select just 10 workers for a road maintenance project. Accusations of favouritism and unfair practices led to outrage, with knife-wielding residents storming the stadium and forcing Adams to flee for his life. *Pearl is a created name to hide the identity of our source. The Star [email protected]
IOL News
20-07-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Emfuleni's job raffle causes quite a stir
The Emfuleni job raffle, intended to fill just 100 general worker positions for residents of Wards 36 and 37, follows the Gauteng Department of Transport's recent allocation of R138 million to fast-track the long-overdue completion of the Sebokeng Driving Licence Testing Centre. The process raises questions about fairness and gender equality. Image: File IN A controversial approach to reduce unemployment, Emfuleni Municipality recently organised a job raffle, which it claims provides equal opportunity. However, this initiative has led to public outcry over issues of fairness and transparency. The selection process was held at the Sebokeng Driving Licence Testing Centre (DLTC), where hundreds of hopeful job seekers lined up in queues so long they resembled an election day, all anxiously waiting to hear if their names would be drawn in the lottery-style selection process. A boy was asked to pick out the lucky names. The job raffle, intended to fill just 100 general worker positions for residents of Wards 36 and 37, follows the Gauteng Department of Transport's recent allocation of R138 million to fast-track the long-overdue completion of the Sebokeng Driving Licence Testing Centre (DLTC). Watch the video here: Many residents expressed frustration over the unexpected shift in the application process, explaining that they were originally told to hand in their CVs and qualifications sealed in envelopes at the Sebokeng DLTC. 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 ✕ Ad loading A resident from Zone 7, speaking on condition of anonymity, shared her deep frustration and disappointment with how the job raffle was handled. She explained that when news of the general worker positions broke, she followed every instruction carefully, submitting her CV in a brown envelope along with certified copies of her qualifications, just as required. She used what little money she had to make copies, get them certified, and purchase an envelope, hopeful that her dedication and qualifications would improve her chances of being selected. 'I was excited and hopeful. As a mother of three, it's hard watching your children grow up without the stability of a steady income. I thought this was finally my chance,' she said, her voice breaking. 'But it felt like all that effort was wasted. We were later told to just write our names on a piece of paper and drop it in a box, like a lucky draw. It was heartbreaking. I had hoped that my qualifications and my willingness to work would count for something.' She also questioned the fairness of the selection process, expressing frustration that some of the individuals chosen appeared unfit, uninterested, or too old to perform the required duties. Pearl also voiced concerns about gender inequality in the selection process, stating that the outcome appeared to heavily favour men. She was particularly frustrated by the method used, where the young boy was tasked with drawing names from a box and handing them to the councillors, who then called them out, raising questions about transparency and fairness. 'Out of the 100 selected candidates, only 23 were females, while the remaining 77 were males. This doesn't reflect a fair or balanced opportunity for women, especially when many of us are equally qualified and just as desperate for work,' she added. Tshepang Motaung, a resident of Ward 36 and a struggling father of five, also echoed Pearl's concerns. He expressed deep disappointment with the outcome of the job raffle, saying that despite having multiple qualifications and years of work experience, he was still overlooked. Finance MMC and Ward 37 Councillor Hassan Mako told The Star that the raffle process was conducted transparently and fairly, ensuring inclusivity for all community members. Mako explained that he and Ward 36 Councillor Mpho Kodisang jointly decided the job raffle was the fairest approach, aiming to prevent any allegations of interference in the recruitment process. 'The raffle process was a decision agreed upon by both Councillor Kodisang from Ward 36 and me, Councillor Mako from Ward 37. We believe it was a transparent approach for the community. As councillors, we chose not to handle any CVs or be involved in the recruitment beyond the raffle itself. I firmly believe the process was fair, transparent, and inclusive of all community members.' He refuted claims made by *Pearl regarding gender inequality in the selection process, stating that more women than men were selected through the raffle. 'It is not true that there are gender issues. The majority of the people who came through the raffle were women, so that thing is a miss,' he said. Mako dismissed concerns about qualifications, stating that general labour roles typically don't require academic credentials or interviews, unless the job involves specific safety risks. 'Issues of educational experience. In general, labour, I don't think that counts, unless we need a risk…This is how we felt that things could be done, as far as I'm concerned, the community is happy. General labourers do not even have to go for interviews,' he added. He also said that he had not received any complaints from residents about the job raffle process, adding that any concerns could be addressed through the appropriate channels. Kingsol Chabalala, the DA's constituency head for Emfuleni North, echoed Mako's views, stating that the job raffle was a transparent process: 'Emfuleni has long been plagued by nepotism, with political leaders often appointing their relatives and friends. This system helps prevent that,' Chabalala said. However, Chabalala added: 'While I agree with the process, I don't believe pensioners should be considered when young people are still struggling to find work,' he said. He added that although age should not completely disqualify someone, pensioners already receive government social grants and should not take up job opportunities meant to empower the youth. While Emfuleni's job raffle was a first for the municipality, it's not the first time this method has caused tension. In August 2024, a similar incident in Bloemhof, North West, turned chaotic when an ANC ward councillor, Willie Adams, was attacked by angry community members. The councillor had been overseeing a job raffle to select just 10 workers for a road maintenance project. Accusations of favouritism and unfair practices led to outrage, with knife-wielding residents storming the stadium and forcing Adams to flee for his life. *Pearl is a created name to hide the identity of our source. The Star
The Citizen
30-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Raw sewage forces cancellation of Riviera on Vaal parkrun
VEREENIGING – A sewage spill has forced the cancellation of the popular Riviera on Vaal parkrun, as raw effluent continues to pollute parts of the course and flow into the nearby Vaal River. Organisers announced on social media that the event on May 17 would not go ahead due to 'sewage water flooding the course,' calling the situation unsafe and blaming 'inefficiency from the Emfuleni Municipality.' Run director Linda Bosch said the problem has persisted for more than a month and originates from a sewer leak linked to a property in Golf Road. Despite reports to the Emfuleni Local Municipality, Bosch claimed no action has been taken. 'This has really affected us. I feel like I want to run away,' she said. The worst-hit section of the route is near the old bird park, but raw sewage also reaches the golf course close to the start. Trenches have been dug to divert the sewage away from the course, but this has only worsened environmental concerns— channelling the effluent directly into the Vaal River. Municipal spokesperson Makhosonke Sangweni confirmed that the leak stemmed from flats on Golf Road, stating that the matter had not been officially reported through the municipality's channels. He added that unknown individuals had forcibly opened an internal manhole, causing the overflow. 'Now that the municipality is officially aware, the necessary steps will be taken,' Sangweni said. Meanwhile, Riviera on Vaal parkrun participants remain in limbo, and environmental concerns continue to mount as untreated sewage pollutes a key recreational and ecological area. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
News24
28-05-2025
- Business
- News24
WASTE LAND: Rand Water forms new entity, takes charge of stricken Emfuleni's water works
Rand Water is permanently taking over Emfuleni's bulk water and sanitation service through a special-purpose vehicle. Emfuleni will transfer its sewage and water infrastructure to the Vaal Water Corporation in exchange for a stake in the special-purpose vehicle. The Vaal Water Corporation will collect water and sewage revenue from customers, bypassing the municipality's collapsed systems. For secure, anonymous communication with News24's Investigations team, click here. Rand Water has partnered with the Emfuleni Local Municipality to form a new special-purpose vehicle (SPV) to permanently take over the running and maintenance of the bulk water and sewage infrastructure in the Gauteng municipality. For the past four years, the water utility has been assisting the municipality in arresting a spiralling sewage pollution crisis and cleaning up sewage-covered streets and rivers. Rand Water will control and operate the new Vaal Water Corporation, permanently extending its mandate from the Department of Water and Sanitation to end the sewage pollution crisis caused by the collapse of municipal infrastructure. While both entities want a majority stake in the SPV, the exact ownership levels have not yet been finalised. When it became clear that the municipality's sewage infrastructure and capacity to provide the service had collapsed, Senzo Mchunu, then-minister of water and sanitation, intervened through Section 63 of the Water Services Act and appointed Rand Water to restore operations in 2021. He appointed Rand Water as the implementing agent. The total estimated cost of the intervention is R7.6 billion over a seven-year period, including completion of the major capital works, the department said in a statement attributed to Pemmy Majodina, the current minister. In the new venture, the stricken municipality will transfer its existing bulk infrastructure - including four wastewater treatment plants, 44 pump stations, more than 8 000km of sewer pipelines, freshwater infrastructure, and other assets - as its contribution in exchange for a major stake in the new entity. The municipality's more than R1.5 billion outstanding debt due to Rand Water will also form part of its contribution to funding the SPV. Other contributions would be the municipality and regional infrastructure's share of grant funding from the National Treasury and the customer base within the municipality's service area, said Emfuleni spokesperson Makhosonke Sangweni. 'The municipality cannot operate and maintain its bulk water and sanitation infrastructure,' added Sipho Mosai, the chief executive officer of Rand Water. 'It has been hollowed out.' Under the department's guidance, Rand Water approached the municipality with the idea of forming the SPV for water and sanitation services, which requires the approval of the minister of finance. Majodina said: The establishment of the SPV will result in a professionally managed, dedicated utility with full responsibility and accountability for the provision of water and sanitation services in Emfuleni. The SPV will collect sanitation revenue from the municipality's customers, while Emfuleni will retain its status as the water authority responsible for setting water tariffs and the water licence, which will be transferred to Vaal Water. For more than 10 years, Emfuleni has been experiencing a sewage pollution crisis caused by its failure to maintain and repair infrastructure. This has resulted in sustained raw sewage spilling from broken pipes, flowing through the streets into the river system, negatively affecting residents' living conditions. The municipality, located in the south of Gauteng, borders the Free State on the Vaal River and is home to more than a million people. During the past five years, the municipality's collapsed capacity caused it to forfeit and return more than R640 million in unspent municipal infrastructure grants to the National Treasury. All four Emfuleni wastewater treatment plants and most of the 44 sewer pump stations had fallen into disrepair. The resulting sewage crisis heavily polluted critical and strategic natural water sources such as the Vaal River, which South Africa's industrial heartland of Gauteng, Free State and Mpumalanga relies on for water. Four years later, a visit to the area revealed that sewage pollution had been significantly reduced, and all four wastewater treatment plants were working. The problem has not yet been fully resolved, but significant demonstrable progress has been made. Rand Water carried out a major refurbishment of the Leeuwkuil Wastewater Treatment Plant over the past three years, replacing stolen electrical cables and installing new pipes to replace the collapsed 60-year-old infrastructure. This includes the replacement of 50 collapsed sewer lines. The Leeuwkuil plant is now operating at half its 36 megalitre capacity, from a standstill three years ago. Work currently under way would take its operations to full capacity over the next two years, said Justice Maluleke, the department's head of infrastructure in Gauteng. A contractor has been appointed to carry out the capacity expansion. Maluleke said Rand Water had overseen the construction of the R1-billion Sebokeng Wastewater Treatment Plant, which currently processes 150 megalitres of sewage a day, including a load from the City of Johannesburg. The plant has a design capacity of 200 megalitres. Rand Water has restored all 44 pump stations through major mechanical equipment upgrades. Thahasello Mphatsoe/News24 To achieve this, Rand Water employed more than 80 people and contractors to work on the sewer infrastructure and acquired 36 vehicles and machinery. The assets are registered in the name of Rand Water and the department to reduce the risk of being attached by the municipality's other unpaid creditors. Plants have armed security teams guarding them round the clock, curbing the vandalism associated with cable and scrap metal theft. According to spokesperson Makenosi Maroo, Rand Water's interventions at the pump stations and pipelines have cost about R900 million. While the interventions have had the desired overall impact, the residents of Kanana section in Evaton still grapple with sewage spilling into their homes from blocked pipelines 20 years on. Rand Water said the solution was to replace the pipeline with a bigger pipe as population growth rendered the original pipelines inadequate for the load. As a temporary relief measure, the municipality will prioritise the flushing of the pipeline with a mechanical sucker while it secures funds to replace the pipe.
