Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance (DA) strongly condemns the shocking abuse of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in the Bojanala District Municipality, where workers were allegedly forced to perform domestic work for ANC councillors, pay a portion of their stipends for “fuel costs”, and take up ANC membership to secure work.
These revelations once again expose how ANC politicians exploit vulnerable citizens and public programmes for their own political and personal gain. The EPWP was established to uplift unemployed South Africans through temporary work and skills development not to fund ANC membership drives or serve as a source of free labour for politically connected officials.
We welcome Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson’s swift action to launch an investigation into these allegations. His current “listening tour” across communities is uncovering the full extent of the problem, including disturbing accounts of sexual exploitation in exchange for work opportunities.
The DA unequivocally condemns this conduct by ANC leaders who treat South Africans as political pawns. At the municipal level, we call on Minister Hlabisa, to take immediate action to clean up this rot and protect workers from further exploitation.
Regards
Bonginkosi Madikizela MP
DA Spokesperson on Public Works and Infrastructure