Dustin Wetdewich and Selogile Leshage

A man trying to feed his two sons, aged seven and three respectively, was turned away from the Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) because he lives in a DA-controlled ward.
According to the father, Thabo Molaodi (35) he and three other residents of ward 4 went to apply for a place in the EPWP but were turned away by the man in charge because ward 4 is part of town and is run by the DA.
‘I have been surviving on piece jobs so I can feed and clothe my two sons. I was depending on that job Z there are dump sites that need to be cleaned in ward 4, who are they going to use to clean up those sites?
Only ANC members were allowed to apply,’ said the distraught Molaodi.
According to Johan Zerwick, the ward 4 councillor, the invitation for people to apply was only extended to ANC ward councillors.
‘The EPWP is not an ANC slush-fund, it is a government programme for poverty alleviation and skills transfer that should benefit everyone, yet the ANC clearly ignores this for its own benefit,’ said Zerwick in a statement.
The DA has written to North West Public Works MEC, Madoda Sambatha, requesting an investigation into the matter. According to Hans-Jurie Moolman, the DA caucus chairperson in NW 405, this behaviour is unconstitutional and amounts to a human rights violation. The municipality is discriminating against people based on their political affiliation,’ he said.
According to Willie Maphosa, municipal spokesperson, the municipality is not aware of anyone being turned away because they were not ANC members.
‘This would be a gross violation of the municipal policy and we, therefore, invite those affected to lodge complaints with the offices of the speaker and the municipal; manager so that the matter can be investigated and followed up so that the necessary action may be taken where required,’ Maphosa said.
According to him, the municipality’s policy is to source personnel for these projects in those wards where the projects are being implemented. The relevant ward councillors are then brought on board. ‘Such projects are more often than not implemented in the most disadvantaged areas because they are aimed at creating community infrastructure,’ said Maphosa.
The Herald has been reliably informed that members of the ANC from ward 4 were allowed into the EPWP.