Latest news with #MatjhabengLocalMunicipality
The Citizen
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Macpherson suspends EPWP funds to Matjhabeng Municipality
This follows reports that the municipality's EPWP payroll is allegedly being used to pay inflated salaries. Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson has suspended all Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) fund transfers to the Matjhabeng Local Municipality. This follows reports that the municipality's EPWP payroll is allegedly being used to pay inflated salaries, over R31,000 per month , to former councillors and current political office bearers while others are paid as little R1,500. This is more than ten times the average EPWP stipend. Jobs According to reports, municipal insiders said this practice continues to undermine the EPWP's purpose and prevents thousands of local young people from accessing jobs. Under EPWP rules, jobs must be short-term and skills-based, prioritising vulnerable and unemployed groups, particularly young people, women and people with disabilities. Employment is limited to 24 months within a five-year cycle. ALSO READ: WATCH: Macpherson not deterred by 'political pressure or death threats' over R800m oxygen tender 'Lifeline' Macpherson said the EPWP was established to provide short-term, skills-based work opportunities, not to serve as a vehicle for political patronage. 'The EPWP is an essential lifeline for many in communities across the country, including in Matjhabeng, and it would therefore be wholly unacceptable if any politician or official is found to have used the programme for personal benefit. 'We simply cannot turn a blind eye when serious allegations of abuse are raised, which is why I have instructed the department to suspend EPWP fund transfers until a formal investigation can be completed,' Macpherson said. Reformation Macpherson added that the allegations further reinforce his view that the EPWP must be reformed to eliminate any possibility of abuse and ensure that intended beneficiaries fully benefit from the programme, free from political interference. 'Through the EPWP Listening Tour conducted nationwide, we have heard several serious allegations of abuse — such as those in Matjhabeng — and it is therefore critical that the programme be strengthened to eliminate any possibility of corruption and political patronage. 'After 20 years, we are committed to reforming the EPWP to ensure it remains a viable platform for empowerment well into the future, as we work to build a better South Africa,' Macpherson said. EPWP The EPWP, which was launched in 2004, was meant to tackle unemployment through labour-intensive projects like road maintenance, sanitation and community work. Earlier this month, Macpherson vowed to restore public trust in his department by taking decisive action against mismanagement, repurposing idle state assets, and reforming the EPWP. Macpherson confirmed that investigations into the Telkom Towers project and the PSA Oxygen Plant, managed by the Independent Development Trust (IDT), are expected to be completed by late July 2025. ALSO READ: Zikalala slams 'spurious' allegations about R45m IDT lease deal, heads to Public Protector
IOL News
a day ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Public Works Minister takes action against alleged political abuse in Matjhabeng's EPWP
EPWP payments frozen in Matjhabeng amid claims of councillors receiving over R31,000 monthly; Minister vows to root out corruption and restore the programme's core purpose. Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson has halted all Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) fund transfers to the Matjhabeng Local Municipality. This comes after a City Press investigation revealed that the municipality's EPWP payroll is allegedly being used to pay inflated salaries, over R31,000 per month , to former councillors and current political office bearers, more than ten times the average EPWP stipend. Macpherson said the EPWP was never meant to serve as a vehicle for political patronage, but rather to provide short-term, skills-based work opportunities to unemployed South Africans. He has now instructed the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to suspend all transfers to the municipality until a formal investigation is completed.
eNCA
a day ago
- Politics
- eNCA
Minister suspends EPWP funds to Matjhabeng
JOHANNESBURG - Public Works Minister, Dean Macpherson, has suspended Expanded Public Works Programme funding to Matjhabeng Local Municipality pending a full investigation. This follows reports that politically connected municipal workers are receiving inflated salaries through the EPWP. Some workers allegedly receive salaries as high as R30,000 per month, while others are paid as little R1,500. Macpherson says the EPWP was established to provide short-term, skills-based work opportunities, not to serve as a a vehicle for political patronage.
eNCA
4 days ago
- Business
- eNCA
Review of Free State municipalities
MATJHABENG LOCAL MUNICIPALITY - A governance crisis in the Free State Province is getting worse. In one of the worst situations Matjhabeng Local Municipality has been able to wrack up a water bill of R8.1 billion for yars. Kopanong Municipality has not been paying pension fund contributions of its workers to the value of hundreds of millions of Rand. Other municipalities have been accused of prioritizing exorbitant salaries for high officials over service delivery. MPs have been on the ground to determine what's going on. The Portfolio Committee on Cooperatie Governance and Traditional Affairs or COGTA is leading a two-day oversight visit in conjunction with the Premier of the Free State and a provincial MEC.
IOL News
13-06-2025
- IOL News
Matjhabeng Municipality fined R250,000 for contempt of court over sewage spill
The Matjhabeng Local Municipality, currently under administration, and its acting municipal manager, Thabo Panyani, have been declared in contempt of court and fined R250,000 for failing to implement a court order compelling them to address sewage spillage in Welkom. Image: Supplied The troubled Matjhabeng Local Municipality and its acting municipal manager, Thabo Panyani, have been found guilty of contempt of court and fined R250,000 after failing to address sewage spillage into business premises. The sewage spillage into Nashua Welkom has been the subject of court proceedings dating back to 2021. In September 2022, then-municipal manager Zingisa Tindleni was ordered to take all steps necessary to ensure full and timely compliance with the Free State High Court decision forcing the municipality to repair the sewage system and provide updates to Nashua Welkom's attorneys monthly until the repairs are finalised. The municipality was also ordered to take all the necessary steps and ensure that temporary mobile pumps, which regulate the flow of sewerage within the interim installed pumps, are kept in place. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Additionally, the municipality was told to take all precautionary steps to avoid, in the interim, any possible contamination and/or associated problems/issues/damages with the sewage lines/infrastructure and the proper and effective flow thereof up until the final date of resolution of the matter as ordered. Parties in the matter were then allowed to approach the court on the same papers, and duly supplemented, if need be, for the further directives and or orders in the event of a change of circumstances or non-compliance with the terms of the order. In December last year, Nashua Welkom and the municipality agreed that as reasonably possible in the interim, the municipality will pump the sewerage lines at or near the company's premises in Welkom twice a day and, if necessary, and the circumstances change, as at rainfall, the municipality shall ensure that the pumping of the sewerage line is done at regular intervals, including jet pumping to address any emergency to avoid any possible contamination and/or associated problems/issues, including damages to its property. In addition, the municipality also undertook to clean any current sewerage spills at Nashua Welkom's premises and surrounding areas to avoid any further pollution and or health risks and keep a logbook to be signed by the operator as well as the company immediately after the pumping. However, the company approached the high court, arguing that the municipality had failed to comply with the order, and Acting Judge Suzanne Boonzaaier agreed last Thursday, June 5. 'In the circumstances, wilfulness could be inferred, placing an evidential burden on the respondents (the municipality and Panyani) to raise a reasonable doubt as to whether their non-compliance was wilful or in bad faith,' she found. Nashua Welkom had wanted Panyani to be imprisoned for six months or such as the court might find appropriate and on conditions it deems appropriate. But Acting Judge Boonzaaier ruled that previous court orders were issued when different officials held office in the local municipality. 'In my view, it would be inappropriate to attribute that responsibility to the current acting official in his personal capacity, particularly given the temporary nature of his position,' stated the acting judge. She was, however, not persuaded that the municipality and Panyani made every reasonable effort to comply with the court order, as the issue persists, and its impact continues to be felt not only by Nashua Welkom but also by the general public. Acting Judge Boonzaaier declared Matjhabeng and Panyani to be in contempt of court by failing to comply with three orders and ordered them to pay a fine of R250,000 to Nashua Welkom. The fine was wholly suspended for six months on condition that the municipality and Panyani purge their contempt.
