Nhlanhla Mabaso12 November 2024 | 5:10

Public Works Minister vows to ring in officials involved in EPWP 'corruption and political patronage'

The department said while it wants workers in EPWP to gain skills, it also wants them to earn better salaries.   

Public Works Minister vows to ring in officials involved in EPWP 'corruption and political patronage'

Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson announced an initiative by Infrastructure South Africa. Picture: GCIS

DURBAN - The Public Works ministry has vowed to fire all officials linked to corruption in the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

On Monday, EPWP workers and the community work programme in Howick, western KwaZulu-Natal, held a public meeting with Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson.

They informed him about alleged corruption and wrongdoing in the programmes meant to provide skills development and training to workers.  

Macpherson said he will address the issues.

"Based on what I've heard today from this community, it is clear that EPWP is being subjected to abuse by some giving jobs to pals, family friends, to boyfriends and girlfriends. Corruption and political patronage is taking place," he mouthed.

READ: Macpherson seeking to make EPWP more transparent

He added that proper procedures must be followed during the hiring process. 

"No person should ever have to show their membership card of a party for an EPWP job, no person should ever have to offer themselves or their body for a job. No person should ever have to pay for a job and no single person should have the power to determine who gets and who doesn’t get jobs," he added.

The department said while it wants workers in EPWP to gain skills, it also wants them to earn better salaries.   

Workers said they only receive R960 a month, adding it's not enough given the high cost of living. 

Macpherson said the programme must be restructured so workers are paid a better wage.

"It is clear that the wages of EPWP are not sufficient to live on long term. We need to reform the programme to ensure that recipients are better paid through permanent jobs that EPWP can be either the gateway to or a partnership with the private sector," said Macpherson.