Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) employees in Gauteng claim they have not been paid for months, sparking outrage amid allegations that funds meant for their wages may have been misappropriated in a corruption scandal involving a high-profile contractor and a suspended government official.
Workers Left in the Lurch
The Daily Maverick recently reported that businessman Collen Mashawana, who was awarded an EPWP tender, allegedly made two payments toward a private property owned by suspended Independent Development Trust (IDT) CEO Tebogo Malaka. This has raised serious concerns that money intended for workers’ salaries may have been unlawfully redirected.
EPWP employees, who were supposed to receive R1,700 per month, say they were paid as little as R360, leaving them in dire financial straits. The program, designed to alleviate poverty and unemployment, has become a source of distress for many families dependent on its wages.
SANCO Condemns Corruption
Mzukisi Jam, spokesperson for the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO), expressed frustration over the situation, calling it “heartbreaking” and accusing corrupt officials of “stealing from the poorest of the poor without any conscience.”
Jam criticized the outsourcing of the EPWP initiative to private entities, arguing that direct oversight by the Department of Public Works could have prevented such exploitation. He also lamented the lack of accountability, stating that despite repeated calls for action, corruption continues unchecked.
Minister Takes Action
Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson has opened a criminal case against Malaka, vowing to safeguard taxpayer funds. However, Jam questioned the effectiveness of the government’s anti-corruption measures, pointing out that even under the new Government of National Unity, graft remains rampant.
“We hoped for change, but it seems nothing has improved,” Jam said. “Communities are on their own in this fight.”
Calls for Transparency
SANCO has urged investigative journalists and law enforcement to intensify efforts in exposing corruption. Meanwhile, unpaid EPWP workers remain in limbo, with no clear resolution in sight.
As the scandal unfolds, pressure mounts on authorities to ensure workers receive their overdue wages and hold those responsible accountable.