Latest news with #ExpandedPublicWorksProgramme
The Citizen
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Local government has become graft warzone
The GNU has awakened the ANC to the fact that it can halt wasteful spending without external pressure. One of former minister Dr Zweli Mkhize's trending videos on social media is that of him questioning a mayor at Matjhabeng district municipality in the Free State on an item that appears in their budget. The flustered official and the municipality's chief financial officer have no idea why there's an R18 million item titled 'Bonuses' on the budget. It turns out that some stipends that are meant to be R3 100 for officials on the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) turned into 10 times that, R31 000 per month in the pockets of corrupt officials. The minister in charge of the public works and infrastructure, the DA's Dean Macpherson, promptly suspended funds for the EPWP for the municipality to allow investigations to root out the corruption. The sad part about the decision is that it is a programme meant to provide employment for mainly unemployed youth and, as a result, the suspension means some deserving individuals will suffer because of the decision aimed at rooting out corruption. While praise should be heaped on Mkhize as cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) parliamentary committee chair that went to the Free State municipality on an oversight visit, it must be pointed out that this is primarily what was lacking in government for the past 30 years. The country can celebrate that corruption is being stopped to prevent further waste of funds, but the ANC should not only take this as democracy in action, but as an indication of what has led to its demise at national level. ALSO READ: Matjhabeng municipality's appeal rejected amid financial challenges, service delivery collapse This is the kind of oversight that should have been standard in government. That is what parliament is there for, to provide oversight, daily. Instead of doing this, parliament became a battleground to protect errant and delinquent leaders who have been exposed as lacking. It seems the local government elections next year carry more significance than last year's general election that ushered in the era of coalition politics at national level. So, the likes of the Matjhabeng district municipality should be shaking in their boots at the prospect of being booted out for mismanagement of funds and corruption. But history has shown that voters are duped into electing leaders who pay themselves first at the expense of providing much-needed work for communities. Local municipalities all over the country are becoming that which the constitution meant for them to be: the face of government for the man on the street. ALSO READ: Macpherson suspends all EPWP funds to municipality That is what Mkhize and Cogta were aiming for in exposing the rot in Matjhabeng. Sadly, because the advent of the government of national unity (GNU) at national level has closed off a lot of taps that were previously available and unmonitored for tenderpreneurs to loot at will, they have now turned their cunning ways and corrupt practices to loot state funds at local government. It is no surprise that forensic auditors like Mpho Mafole in the Ekurhuleni municipality and countless others were assassinated in a brazen and alarming manner to cover up the corrupt acts of the political heads of departments. The coalface of service delivery has become a warzone that is threatening the bedrock of service delivery: honesty in dealing with public funds. The threat issued by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to Joburg mayor Dada Morero is further proof that the GNU has awakened even those within the ANC to the fact that wasteful expenditure and unauthorised spending do not require an outside party to be stopped. It can be stopped by civil servants doing the jobs they were employed to do in the first place. NOW READ: Almost 40 municipalities facing sanctions from Treasury over mismanagement
The Citizen
28-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Macpherson suspends EPWP funds to Matjhabeng Municipality
This follows reports that the municipality's EPWP payroll is allegedly being used to pay inflated salaries. Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson has suspended all Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) fund transfers to the Matjhabeng Local Municipality. This follows reports that the municipality's EPWP payroll is allegedly being used to pay inflated salaries, over R31,000 per month , to former councillors and current political office bearers while others are paid as little R1,500. This is more than ten times the average EPWP stipend. Jobs According to reports, municipal insiders said this practice continues to undermine the EPWP's purpose and prevents thousands of local young people from accessing jobs. Under EPWP rules, jobs must be short-term and skills-based, prioritising vulnerable and unemployed groups, particularly young people, women and people with disabilities. Employment is limited to 24 months within a five-year cycle. ALSO READ: WATCH: Macpherson not deterred by 'political pressure or death threats' over R800m oxygen tender 'Lifeline' Macpherson said the EPWP was established to provide short-term, skills-based work opportunities, not to serve as a vehicle for political patronage. 'The EPWP is an essential lifeline for many in communities across the country, including in Matjhabeng, and it would therefore be wholly unacceptable if any politician or official is found to have used the programme for personal benefit. 'We simply cannot turn a blind eye when serious allegations of abuse are raised, which is why I have instructed the department to suspend EPWP fund transfers until a formal investigation can be completed,' Macpherson said. Reformation Macpherson added that the allegations further reinforce his view that the EPWP must be reformed to eliminate any possibility of abuse and ensure that intended beneficiaries fully benefit from the programme, free from political interference. 'Through the EPWP Listening Tour conducted nationwide, we have heard several serious allegations of abuse — such as those in Matjhabeng — and it is therefore critical that the programme be strengthened to eliminate any possibility of corruption and political patronage. 'After 20 years, we are committed to reforming the EPWP to ensure it remains a viable platform for empowerment well into the future, as we work to build a better South Africa,' Macpherson said. EPWP The EPWP, which was launched in 2004, was meant to tackle unemployment through labour-intensive projects like road maintenance, sanitation and community work. Earlier this month, Macpherson vowed to restore public trust in his department by taking decisive action against mismanagement, repurposing idle state assets, and reforming the EPWP. Macpherson confirmed that investigations into the Telkom Towers project and the PSA Oxygen Plant, managed by the Independent Development Trust (IDT), are expected to be completed by late July 2025. ALSO READ: Zikalala slams 'spurious' allegations about R45m IDT lease deal, heads to Public Protector
IOL News
27-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Public Works Minister takes action against alleged political abuse in Matjhabeng's EPWP
EPWP payments frozen in Matjhabeng amid claims of councillors receiving over R31,000 monthly; Minister vows to root out corruption and restore the programme's core purpose. Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson has halted all Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) fund transfers to the Matjhabeng Local Municipality. This comes after a City Press investigation revealed that the municipality's EPWP payroll is allegedly being used to pay inflated salaries, over R31,000 per month , to former councillors and current political office bearers, more than ten times the average EPWP stipend. Macpherson said the EPWP was never meant to serve as a vehicle for political patronage, but rather to provide short-term, skills-based work opportunities to unemployed South Africans. He has now instructed the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to suspend all transfers to the municipality until a formal investigation is completed.
eNCA
27-07-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
Minister suspends EPWP funds to Matjhabeng
JOHANNESBURG - Public Works Minister, Dean Macpherson, has suspended Expanded Public Works Programme funding to Matjhabeng Local Municipality pending a full investigation. This follows reports that politically connected municipal workers are receiving inflated salaries through the EPWP. Some workers allegedly receive salaries as high as R30,000 per month, while others are paid as little R1,500. Macpherson says the EPWP was established to provide short-term, skills-based work opportunities, not to serve as a a vehicle for political patronage.
The Citizen
23-07-2025
- The Citizen
City Power arrests 7 in major crackdown on copper theft and infrastructure sabotage
City Power (CP) confirmed the arrests of seven suspects over the past week, including three employees apprehended on Mandela Day. These arrests in Reuven and Lenasia were part of broader efforts to dismantle internal corruption, sabotage and theft threatening the city's electricity network. The most alarming development occurred in the early hours of July 18, when a trade assistant, cleaner and an Expanded Public Works Programme worker were intercepted while trying to exit CP's Reuven service delivery centre (SDC) with about 840 pieces of suspected stolen copper pipes. These goods, with a street value of over R200 000, were concealed in boxes inside a company vehicle. CP security officers detected the theft during a routine checkpoint inspection. The SAPS was immediately alerted and took the suspects into custody on site. All three now face criminal charges. 'It is disturbing and disappointing to find some of our staff allegedly involved in the theft of public infrastructure. These are people entrusted with safeguarding our network, yet they've betrayed that responsibility. We will pursue disciplinary action without fear or favour,' said CP CEO Tshifularo Mashava. These arrests came just days after a separate high-stakes operation in Denver, where CP security personnel, the SAPS, the JMPD and private partners came under fire during a shootout with suspected infrastructure vandals. On the night of July 13, at 23:20, security teams responded to suspicious activity on 485 Main Reef Road, Denver. Upon arrival, officers encountered criminals actively digging a 35m trench, believed to be part of a cable theft or sabotage operation. The criminals opened fire, leading to an exchange of gunfire under the cover of darkness. Fortunately, there were no injuries. A swift and co-ordinated response led to the arrest of three people, aged between 21 and 23, at the scene/ They face charges including housebreaking, malicious damage to property and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. 'The shootout in Denver underscores the dangerous and organised nature of these crimes. We are dealing with syndicates that are armed and unafraid to confront law enforcement. We commend the bravery of our teams and partners, and we will not relent in the fight to protect Johannesburg's electricity infrastructure,' added Mashava. These arrests form part of an ongoing internal clean-up campaign launched by CP in March. To date, 15 staff are undergoing disciplinary action, many of them linked to fraud, collusion with contractors and theft. Forty-seven disciplinary cases have been processed since March 2024, including multiple suspensions and one criminal prosecution. Those implicated include electricians, security officers, team leaders and senior managers. CP continues to urge employees, contractors and the public to come forward with any information about crimes targeting electricity infrastructure. All tip-offs are confidential. Call the call centre on 011 490 7900, toll-free on 0800 116 166, or via WhatsApp on 083 579 4497. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
