THE metro’s R1 million per ward project is a dismal failure with those employed becoming nothing else than a clean-up crew, the DA said.
According to reports from the employees themselves, the teams were not paid for almost two months, Heather Hart said.
Essentially the Lungile Mtshali Community Development Project was designed as a job creation programme in honour of the late MMC for finance, Clr Lungile Mtshali. R1 million per year had been allocated to each of the 101 wards in Ekurhuleni to employ 30 ward-based unemployed residents for the purpose of projects to “uplift the community”.
“In simple maths, that amounts roughly to R6 million a month of ratepayers’ money, while those employed are forced to just sit around,” Hart said.
“The DA welcomed the concept in principle. However, we were aghast that no firm plans were in place to monitor exactly what projects could be undertaken, how they would be implemented and managed, who would be tasked with managing the projects and what mechanisms were in place to ensure that the money was not simply wasted.”
She said the current structures could not manage 101 different ward-based projects simultaneously.
Hart said despite the metro already employing staff to sweep streets and maintain parks, this is what the Lungile Mtshali Project became – a clean-up crew.
“Not even one ward appears to have seen the benefit of a long-term or self-sustainable project, this after the ANC decreed that the Lungile Mtshali banner would produce “legacies” in every community.
“There have been many instances of jobs being given to ANC cadres only, some we believe from as far afield at the Eastern Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal. It took over five months before any teams were given the tools required to do even the most basic tasks allotted to them, in the cases they were allotted any tasks at all.
“Thus it is no surprise that all too often one sees these teams of green overall-clad workers lying about in the sun, shopping in malls or just walking and standing about, through no fault of their own,” Hart said.
Having spoken to some of the brigade members, Hart said they were as frustrated as the DA with the whole sorry saga and many recognise that again the ANC has misled them. “Many of these employees were hoping that this short-term job would build their skills and that they would be making a difference by actively being involved in cleaning up the metro’s CBDs and residential areas.”
Even though the programme seems to work in some wards with some degree of success, nowhere can it justify the expenditure of at least R60 000 of ratepayers’ money per ward every month, according to Hart.
“It is disappointing that something which could have been so successful for so many, if only it had been properly thought out and planned.”
The DA has repeatedly asked questions in council and also sent two letters to the mayor with copies to the speaker and city manager, asking that allegations of corruption in the selection of applicants be investigated, all to no avail.
Furthermore, regular complaints have been forwarded to relevant officials, but to date not one single response has been received.
“Due to this blatant dereliction of duty, the DA will now take the matter to the provincial MEC for local government and ask for investigations into irregularities, mismanagement and wasteful expenditure. If no action is taken, we will forward our complaint to both the Public Protector and Auditor General,” Hart said.
The metro has been asked for comment.
