Whistleblower asks for investigation into Govan Mbeki Municipality’s frozen posts and missing bursaries
GMM maintains participation in the EPWP does not automatically guarantee permanent employment.
An anonymous Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) worker has blown the lid off alleged hiring irregularities, political interference, and a lack of transparency regarding skills development funds within the Govan Mbeki Municipality.
The whistleblower, who has served as an EPWP meter reader since 2021, is demanding a full independent investigation into why promised permanent jobs have vanished, and where public training funds are actually going.
According to the source, EPWP meter readers have repeatedly been told they would be insourced permanently.
Meter reading is a critical function that directly drives municipal revenue and ensures residents are billed accurately.
“Despite the importance of this work, about five permanent posts advertised between 2021 and last year were subsequently frozen,” the employee claimed.
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“There are deep concerns among workers that political interference contributed to these positions being frozen. We need an independent investigation to establish what happened.”
The whistleblower also questioned the municipality’s use of training funds, noting that while roughly 1% of municipal employee salaries is legally allocated to departmental training and community development, no public advertisements for learnerships or bursaries have been seen in years.
“This raises serious questions about how these funds are being utilised and whether the public is being given equal access,” the worker stated, presenting a seven-point list of demands for an investigation into the frozen posts, recruitment criteria, and the distribution of bursaries.
Govan Mbeki Municipality’s media liaison and content developer, Donald Green, strongly defended the local authority’s record, stating that all processes strictly follow approved policies and legislation.
“Participation in the EPWP does not automatically guarantee permanent employment; appointment to permanent positions is strictly subject to the availability of funded vacancies,” said Green.
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Addressing the frozen positions, Green explained that vacancies are regularly put on hold or withdrawn due to financial constraints, budget considerations, or changing organisational requirements. Green flatly denied the claims of political meddling in the HR department.
“At this stage, no evidence has been presented to the municipality to substantiate these allegations.
“Any person who has evidence of improper interference or irregular conduct is encouraged to report it through the appropriate channels so it can be formally investigated,” said Green.
He maintained that whenever public opportunities become available, they are communicated via official municipal platforms.
The municipality has promised to strengthen its communication going forward and urges community members to rely only on verified information from official channels.
