EPWP programme beneficiaries booed by workers angry at being overlooked
THE launch of the fourth phase of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in Kwazulu-natal yesterday became a venting event when workers used the platform to complain about poor pay, corruption and nepotism.
The workers, who were mainly from Mhlathuze local municipality (Mpangeni-richards Bay) on the north coast, alleged the programme has been riddled with nepotism, corruption and has become patronage machinery for councillors.
Their anger came to the fore during a launch held at Mfolozi TVET College in Sikhawini when they howled at two beneficiaries who were called to the stage to speak on their behalf. Workers from the floor shouted, saying they don’t know the two as they were not chosen by them to speak at the event.
As the first representative, Zanele Mdluli, spoke, the disgruntled workers kept raising issues of the low stipend they received (which amounts to R2 300 per month). They maintained it was too low to enable them to earn a decent living.
When the second representative, Khethiwe Dlamini, said the programme was benefiting them (the workers) she was criticised by the 1 000 EPWP workers present who accused her of selling out. Dlamini was, however, applauded when she signed off by asking the government to raise the stipend.
Long-time EPWP worker, Vusi Zubane, a cleaner in one of the community halls owned by Mhlathuze local municipality, alleged he has been on the programme for over five years and said it pained him to see “connected workers” coming after him and getting employed full-time.
“I have been on the programme for a very long time yet I am not permanently employed. There are workers who are related to councillors and municipal officials who joined the programme after me and went on to be fully employed,” Zubane alleged.
Another worker who is a waste collector in the same programme with the same municipality, collaborated Zubane’s claim. He alleged that when they joined the programme six years ago, they were promised full-time employment within six months.
However, up to this day, they are not employed despite diligently carrying out their duties.
“Instead of taking us on board on a full-time basis, you see new faces coming in and getting employed on a full-time basis ahead of us. This is pure corruption that must be stopped if the purpose of this programme,” he said
Zubane added that they have even approached the South African Local Government Association to help them.
The demand for higher wages and permanent employment is not new. Last year EPWP workers in ethekwini downed tools demanding to be absorbed by the municipality while some workers raised the issue of wages. Currently, municipalities are exempted from the national minimum wage of R3 500 a month.
Responding to the corruption allegations, Mbulelo Baloyi, spokesperson for the Kwazulu-natal Department of Public Works, said the allegations were serious and the people making them should be specific and provide more information.
“We cannot begin to investigate if we don’t have information as to who is responsible and how it is done…
“The only way we can investigate is when we have specific information,” Baloyi said. AS THE fifth parliamentary term came to an end this week, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) concluded its term by adopting a number of statutes including the National Qualifications Framework Amendment Bill which will name and shame those using fraudulent academic qualifications.
The National Assembly during its consideration of the bill learnt that about 97 national qualifications and 95 foreign qualifications were misrepresented or found to be fraudulent between last October and November bring the number up to 1 564 from 2009.
Though the NCOP passed the bill with the ANC’S majority, some of its members were against it for various reasons.
DA MP Belinda Bozzoli said the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), which will be tasked with managing the database, does not have the capacity to deal with the kind of responsibility assigned to it.
“We are worried about the role of SAQA which is going to have to run this database which will need to be 100% up to date and perfect. We don’t think that is government’s strength. It will be given the responsibility of running this huge database which contains the names of all graduates, all qualifications and fraudulent qualifications. It’s a huge task for SAQA,” said Bozzoli.
According to the bill, qualifications presented for study, employment or appointment will be referred to SAQA for verification or evaluation.
All qualifications must be captured on the SAQA database.
The bill states that any person who fraudulently claims to have received a qualification is guilty of an offence, and is liable on conviction to any sentence which may be imposed for an offence of fraud.
The IFP supported the Bill, but said it was also concerned about its implementation.
IFP MP Xolani Ngwezi said: “South Africans are no strangers to misrepresentation of qualifications. It has become so common that it is a little frightening. Numerous reports have come out that some individuals are in high positions without qualification, or fake qualifications.”
He continued: “The bill is premised on the effort to deal with this phenomenon. What is concerning to the IFP is the burden placed on employers and institutions of higher learning, as job creators and skills providers.