The Bojanala District Municipality has come under fire, following allegations that employees of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), were allegedly forced to perform domestic chores for a mayoral committee member and pressured to pay political party membership fees for her party.
Dean Macpherson, Minister of Public Works & Infrastructure, said this is deeply disturbing and contrary to the very purpose of the EPWP.
“If these claims are true, they represent a serious abuse of power and a betrayal of public trust. The EPWP was created to empower communities, not to serve anyone’s personal or political interests, which is why I have requested departmental officials to work with their provincial counterparts in the North West, as well as the Bojanala District Municipality, to verify the allegations and determine whether national EPWP funds were misused and if the recruitment policy was abused. Any individual found to have benefited improperly would face swift and appropriate action, including possible criminal referral” said Macpherson.
He also said there will be zero tolerance for any misuse of this programme or that of public money.
Picture: IDT