Community Work Programme beneficiaries demand minimum wage
“We need a R3 500 minimum wage. Our president said no one should earn less than R3 500,” said CWP leader of the march.
Thousands of community work programme (CWP) beneficiaries held a march on Tuesday, demanding that their stipends be increased to R3 500.
The protesters were bused from four North West district municipalities, Bojanala, Dr KK, Ngaka Modiri Molema and Dr Ruth Sekgomotsi Mompati.
They gathered at the Union Buildings before heading to the offices of the department of local government where they delivered their memorandum.
Photo: Ron Sibiya
“We are exploited and do not get a living wage,” CWP march leader King-George Mohlala said.
The marchers demanded, among others, their salaries match the county’s minimum living wage.
He said this would only be possible if president Cyril Ramaphosa and local government minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma listened to them.
Photo: Ron Sibiya
“As suffering CWP community, we are making a plea to our president and Dr Dlamini-Zuma that they should rescue us.”
Protesters demanded that all CWP beneficiaries, earning less than R3 500, should have their salaries increased.
“We need a R3 500 minimum wage. Our president said no one should earn less than R3 500.”
Photo: Ron Sibiya
They demanded the government also employ CWP beneficiaries at various permanent positions in government.
“We want to be absorbed as government employees.”
Mohlala said they wanted implementing agent services to be terminated.
“We want to take over the programme and run it ourselves. We have enough experience to do so and we do not need any middle men anymore.”
He demanded the government to pay them an increase backdated to October 2019.
“We demand our money.”
Photo: Ron Sibiya
They also demanded the government to provide training programmes useful for exit opportunities.
The protesters gave the department seven days to respond, saying that further action would be taken should the department ignore them.
Cogta spokesperson Lungi Mtshali said they welcomed the memorandum and were happy that the government and the participants shared the same understanding of programme and its importance.
“The programme is aimed at alleviating poverty,” he said, adding that that mandate has not changed and that training was already taking place.
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
