SEDIBENG.- Concerns have arisen over the allocation of the Emfuleni Local Municipality’s (ELM) Mayoral Bursaries Programme.

 According to the municipality’s official response, 65 learners have been awarded bursaries over the last three financial years but the municipality has declined to provide a list of recipients to clarify if any of the beneficiaries are related to officials or politicians in Emfuleni.

The municipality does not require disclosure of such relationships…

In the response, seen by Sedibeng Ster, to DR Darion Barclay, the Head of Department of Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) Municipal Manager (MM), April Ntuli, said that the municipality does not require applicants to disclose such relationships, and therefore cannot confirm or deny whether any beneficiaries are connected to municipal employees or councillors.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has said that it is deeply concerned after having received troubling information that suggests ELM mayoral bursaries appear to have been allocated through blatant favouritism and political patronage.

“Instead of these bursaries being allocated to the disadvantaged members of the general public in Emfuleni, they have rather been unfairly awarded to associates, comrades and family members of local officials and politicians,” said DA’s Mayoral candidate, Kingsol Chabalala.

This process is shutting out deserving young people

He adds that this undermines fair access to opportunities, shutting out deserving young people in favour of politically connected individuals.

“The DA has subsequently raised questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to demand accountability and transparency, and will continue to pursue this matter through all available oversight mechanisms. The DA demands full transparency where bursary recipients are made public and shared openly and will continue to fight for equitable governance.”