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Help sought to expose EPWP corruption in NMB

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Dear Editor

The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), which is meant to benefit the poor and vulnerable citizens of Nelson Mandela Bay, has become a vehicle for political point-scoring and a cash-cow for connected individuals in the Metro.

The ANC/EFF/NA/PA coalition government has reportedly been using the EPWP to create jobs for pals and across the Metro DA ward councillors have been reporting how the programme’s policy has been flouted.

The abuse of EPWP funding has created an untenable situation where money meant to provide work and a stipend to the poorest families in the Metro, is being used to enrich connected individuals with high-value contracts. The extent of this corruption was recently exposed when the DA was informed of individuals now earning salaries of between R10 000 and R30 000 from EPWP funding.

We will now submit a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application to force the municipality to provide information regarding EPWP appointments in the Metro.

The DA will suggest changes to the EPWP policy to create greater transparency regarding recruitment processes. Ideally, we need the creation of a public database to ensure this transparency.

We will also approach the Minister of Public Works to request a forensic audit into EPWP appointments in the Metro over the last months.

The DA’s recent request to institute a provincial commission of inquiry into state capture in Nelson Mandela Bay, was shot down by Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane

In our request we highlighted that corruption/manipulation with EPWP appointments and the abuse of EPWP funding for the appointment of political appointees are factors that are part and parcel of the reign of Mayor Gary van Niekerk and his coalition government.

DA EC Shadow MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Dr Vicky Knoetze MPL, will also be writing to the National Minister of COGTA, Thembi Nkadimeng, to request her intervention into the abuses that are taking place in Nelson Mandela Bay.

We cannot allow the people of Nelson Mandela Bay to suffer at the hands of the corrupt. We will continue to fight to rescue Nelson Mandela Bay from this cabal that is bringing our municipality to its knees. Together we can get NMB working again.

Regards

Cllr Retief Odendaal
DA NMB Caucus Leader

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