Serving the People, Not the Politically Connected

Dear Editor

The Democratic Alliance (DA) commends Minister Dean Macpherson for recognising the urgent need for reform in the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

Today, 28th October, he has launched a listening tour in the Eastern Cape to hear directly from communities about the challenges and shortcomings they have experienced with the EPWP. This initiative marks a necessary step in addressing abuse and mismanagement within the programme. It is high time for the EPWP to be thoroughly reviewed to better serve the people of South Africa, especially the most vulnerable.

We encourage members of the public who have been affected by or participated in the EPWP to join the Minister’s listening tour, share their stories, and contribute to the 7th administration’s reform agenda. This is a crucial opportunity for the voices of communities to shape the future of the programme.

The need for reform is clear. For too long, the EPWP has functioned as a mechanism of political patronage, corruption, and gross inefficiency under ANC administration.

Since its inception, the EPWP has been plagued by allegations of “jobs-for-pals,” nepotism, and political exploitation, with numerous instances where communities were denied fair access to these opportunities. Despite being a programme intended to uplift the vulnerable and create a stepping stone toward stable employment, it has, under the ANC’s watch, been distorted into a tool for political manipulation. For over a decade, the ANC government failed to intervene and stop this exploitation, despite numerous red flags and calls for reform.

The DA has repeatedly highlighted instances of EPWP corruption and abuse:

• In January 2020, eThekwini Municipality, under Mayor Kaunda, attempted to allocate an additional R166 million to EPWP and take control of its administration from the Mayor’s office, leading to accusations of political interference, ghost workers, and misuse of EPWP staff in ANC protests;
• In August 2020, DA representatives in the Northern Cape revealed the misuse of unqualified EPWP workers in clinics, with individuals performing medical tasks such as blood pressure checks without proper training, putting patients’ health at risk;In December 2020, the DA in the Eastern Cape exposed the ANC Youth League in Alfred Nzo district for blocking EPWP appointments unless workers joined the ANC Youth League; and
• In April 2024, DA parliamentary questions revealed that R14 million of EPWP funds had been allocated to existing government employees as supplementary pay, rather than to vulnerable members of the community.

These are only a handful of the many cases the DA has reported. The ANC repeatedly failed to ensure transparency, leaving communities to endure an EPWP programme that rewarded political loyalties rather than providing meaningful and dignified work.

We believe that Minister Macpherson’s intervention, marked by this listening tour, signifies a new era for the EPWP. By prioritising community feedback, safeguarding the programme against political interference, and setting clear standards for accountability and transparency, the Minister’s approach will restore the EPWP’s intended purpose as a source of hope, dignity, and skills development for South Africans in need.

This much-needed reform promises to put an end to the misuse of EPWP, and we look forward to seeing a transformed programme that serves the people rather than political elites.

Regards

Edwin Macrae Bath MP
DA Deputy Spokesperson on Public Works and Infrastructure