Statement by Leander Kruger MPL – DA Buffalo City Constituency Leader:
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, requesting an urgent investigation into allegations of political interference in Buffalo City’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
This follows a News24 report detailing allegations that approximately 200 people were recruited in Ward 20 in Mdantsane through a process allegedly facilitated by an ANC volunteer who is also the party’s councillor candidate for the ward.
These allegations deepen the concerns the DA raised in August, when we launched our “Open the Books” petition demanding transparency over Buffalo City’s EPWP appointments, expenditure, and alleged political interference.
It has been reported that ANC’s Ward 20 councillor wrote to Council Speaker alleging that Mayor Princess Faku had authorised the councillor candidate to facilitate the recruitment through the ward allocation fund. The ward councillor said residents had questioned how people were selected.
The ANC’s councillor candidate denies involvement in the recruitment, while the municipality maintains that its EPWP initiative complies with national guidelines and is free from political interference.
Those assurances must now be tested against the recruitment records.
In August, a letter reportedly issued by a senior municipal official instructed that EPWP contracts, activities, and participant deployments cease by 31 August, pending approvals and a review.
The DA wants to know what became of that review. Was the stop instruction implemented, and if so, what subsequent approvals authorised the recruitment now being reported in Ward 20?
We will ask Minister Macpherson’s office to investigate whether the recruitment complied with EPWP requirements, whether political figures influenced participant selection, and whether the funding and appointments were properly authorised.
Buffalo City must produce the recruitment criteria, selection records, project approvals, and funding details needed to establish the facts. The findings of its earlier review must also be made public.
Unemployed residents deserve a fair chance to access publicly funded work. No resident should have to demonstrate political loyalty to earn an income.
Our petition remains active, and we urge residents to support the demand for answers. https://petitions.da.org.za/p/open-bcm-epwp-books
The DA will continue fighting for fair access to work opportunities and accountable government, so that we can get Buffalo City working for all.
Thickskn
A buddy in Cape Town saw some dude cat calling a coloured woman with that kst kst kst sound, so she turns around and says \”What? You got a puncture in your face or something??\”
Innocent Ghost
Why was Dr. Jekyll banned from South Africa? Because he was a part Hyde