R160 million extension for eThekwini’s controversial EPWP programme
The City said they have a strategy to exit the programme by June next year.
THE controversial Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is set to be extended for a further 12 months at a cost of R160 million to eThekwini Municipality.
EPWP is a temporary jobs initiative launched in 2004 to equip unemployed youth with skills and work experience.
In Durban, the programme has been mired in controversy after six eThekwini Municipality officials were arrested for fraud and for hiring ghost employees.
The programme has also been rocked by worker protests demanding to be permanently employed.
In a report tabled to the Durban executive council on Tuesday, the City states that a R79 million grant from the national government is not sufficient to ensure the programme runs for a year.
As such the city would need to supplement it with R160 338 239.
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Thabani Mthethwa, Democratic Alliance eThekwini chief whip, said his party would not be supporting the motion as the programme was “rotten to the core”.
“This programme has become a bottomless pit for the ANC (African National Congress) to loot. The city should not be spending any money on this programme until such time we are satisfied that it is clean,” he said.
Mthethwa said the programme had become a political tool for the ANC.
Krish Kumar, eThekwini Municipality’s Chief Financial Officer assured the council that the City is taking extra precautions and verifying the identities of all EPWP employees.
The City said they have established a task team that will look at an exit strategy or this programme by next year June.
An exit strategy has been reported since 2018.
The matter will be forwarded to the full council sitting for a vote.
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