Some reprieve for CWP workers after COGTA extends contracts
COGTA announced on Friday that it has reached a deal to extend the jobs until the end of March.
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has announced it will cut some jobs in the Community Work Programme. Picture: facebook.com/NationalCoGTA
JOHANNESBURG - Employment contracts have been extended for 67,000 Community Work Programme (CWP) beneficiaries who were due to lose their jobs next week.
Earlier this month, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) announced that due to budget cuts, it would terminate the CWP contracts for people aged 55 years and older.
However, COGTA announced on Friday that it has reached a deal to extend the jobs until the end of March.
READ: Nearly half of 67,000 participants to be cut from CWP don't qualify for old age pension
This follows a meeting between Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa and Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.
"The bilateral meeting between Minister Hlabisa and Minister Godongwana resolved to extend the contracts of CWP participants aged 55 years and older until the end of March 2025. Ministers are currently engaged in constructive consultations and will provide regular updates as the department works closely with all stakeholders," said CoGTA spokesperson, Pearl Maseko.