Stipends for EPWP workers paid
Spokesperson for the municipality, Matshidiso Mothapo said that the allegations of authorities refusing pay the workers, were inaccurate.
POLOKWANE – The claim by the DA that some of the 2 000 workers that were employed to participate in the city’s cleaning project were not paid by the Polokwane Municipality, was strongly refuted by the municipality and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).
Last week, DA councillor in the municipality, Tiny Chidi said in a media release that the local authority failed to pay some of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers.
“It is alleged that only workers aligned to the ruling party have been paid in full while the rest of the workers were paid half of their wages or none at all and the DA took note of these workers’ protest march to the municipal offices last Monday to air their grievances,” Chidi stated.
Spokesperson for the municipality, Matshidiso Mothapo said that the allegations were inaccurate and that the DA’s allegations are malicious, unfounded, opportunistic and designed to mislead the public.
“The non-payments and short payments of the EPWP participants for this programme has nothing to do with political affiliation. The DFFE and the municipality are in partnership in implementing the Cleaning and Greening Programme but have different roles and responsibilities which are outlined in the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).” He explained that the DFFE is responsible for processing payment of participants’ stipends, while the municipality is responsible for the procurement of personal protective equipment, tools of trade, the allocation of daily tasks and the collection of waste tonnage cleared, among others.
The chief director: communication and advocacy of the DFFE, Peter Mbelengwa, confirmed that only workers who reported for duty, worked and submitted validated daily wage registers through the municipality were in the pay-run for February 15-17.
“Participants who are yet to confirm banking details will be paid once the department receives valid banking details and verified wage registers. Participants who did not work or report for duty will not be paid in this current cycle and the principle of No Work No Pay applies,” Mbelengwa stated and added that payslips are issued by the DFFE.
UIF contributions are paid, with the employer contributing 1% and the employee contributing 1%. Participants are also covered for Coida by the department.
“The municipality has been prioritised to be part of 14 municipalities across the country to implement this EPWP.
“The total budget for the programme is around R85m, amounting to R70m for wages from the DFFE while R15m on PPEs and tools of trade will be contributed by the municipality.
“The beneficiaries will not incur travel costs since they will be placed within their living areas and be employed on a one-year contract. All 45 wards of the municipality will have 40 beneficiaries each, who are going to work and be able to provide for their families,” Mayor John Mpe said at the launch last December.
