ActionSA Demands Urgent Action to Protect EPWP & PEP Workers in eThekwini

On Friday, 12th July 2024, we had a critical meeting with Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers in the eThekwini Metro Municipality.

These workers urgently requested my assistance regarding their imminent job losses due to the Department of Public Works’ decision to reduce the grant for the programme, leading to the Municipality halting the EPWP.

Several significant issues were raised during this meeting. Some workers commenced employment as early as 2014 under a two-year contract, which was subsequently renewed annually. However, there were instances where contracts were not formally renewed, yet work continued, and salaries were paid into employees’ accounts.

Alarmingly, it was alleged that salaries continued to be paid to individuals who had either passed away or left their employment.

Additionally, despite contributing to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), many workers found themselves ineligible for UIF benefits during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, instead only qualifying for the R350 grant. When workers sought clarification from the Municipality, they were met with hostility.

Further discrepancies were revealed in payslips: while a gross salary of R8279.95 is reflected with a UIF contribution of R82.80, the net salary received is R4018.63. A deduction amounting to R426.32 remains unaccounted for, and Municipal officials allegedly stopped issuing payslips to EPWP workers following these inquiries.

EPWP workers also reported being compelled to work above and beyond their job descriptions, including:
1. Working overtime without compensation.
2. Performing tasks designated for Municipal employees.
3. Working hours meant for permanent workers.
4. Working outside their assigned wards without receiving travel allowances.

Given these facts, it is evident that these workers possess essential skills and should be employed directly by the Municipality.

Serious allegations were also made regarding ANC leaders in the eThekwini region and former ward councillors receiving salaries from the EPWP and the Presidential Employment Programme (PEP), respectively.

In March 2021, the City’s previous Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, informed EPWP workers that the Municipality would be cleaning its EPWP systems to insource all EPWP personnel by June 2021. However, this has not occurred.

Our primary concern as ActionSA is that a mass letter of termination of the programme was issued to various departments within the Municipality, which later found its way to social media platforms. This is how the EPWP workers learned of the termination.

By law, each employee should have been informed of this decision individually by the Municipality, not through a mass message.

In response to these issues, ActionSA will put forward questions in council regarding this matter, specifically seeking an exact number of people employed through the EPWP and PEP.

We will also request that and investigation is done on current and previous councillors in the Municipality to determine which of those are receiving a salary from either of these programmes.

While we understand that a physical verification was previously conducted, we learned during this meeting that verification was not done in other departments.

Furthermore, we will request that the Municipality extends EPWP contracts for a year while conducting a feasibility study for the insourcing of these individuals.

We are aware that the African People First (APF) has put forth a motion in council, calling for the reversal of the termination of EPWP and PEP contracts, and we fully support APF’s motion and urge other parties to do the same.

ActionSA remains committed to advocating for the rights and dignity of workers and will continue to hold those in power accountable for their actions.

We urge the ANC/DA/IFP coalition to act responsibly and protect these jobs, as this decision will impact many families significantly.

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