RESIDENTS have been left stranded with no service at public works district offices in Thulamahashe, Mpumalanga since Monday, 20 November.
This is following protests led by EFF members.
Prince Matlhabane and his regional chairman Surprise Kubayi, joined by local residents, reportedly stormed the offices and removed over 200 workers, claiming they were unlawfully employed by the ANC and the department through nepotism and corruption.
The protesters claimed that these workers were appointed to the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) positions without proper procedures such as interviews or advertised posts.
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"We are here with the community members to make sure that all 200 employees that were employed illegally by the ANC and the Department of Public Works officials using nepotism and corruption are removed forever," said Matlhabane.
He said these individuals were appointed without proper protocols and accused the ANC of using government resources for political gains.
According to Matlhabane, the ANC is appointing people to positions in government institutions to secure political advantages, especially as the party perceives a decline in power.
Mpumalanga Public Works spokesman Bongani Dhlamini said: “The department when recruiting is following all the necessary prescripts. It is therefore not true that the department is not following all procedures. Whoever is having such information must come forward with it or approach the relevant authorities that deals with nepotism or corruption,"
The Ehlanzeni district ANC regional secretary, Folus Sibuyi said: "We don't have anything to say except that whenever posts are advertised in any department, they're for the public and any member of the public who meet the requirements is eligible to benefit irrespective of his or her political affiliation."
Sibuyi accused the EFF of disrupting services and claimed that they were attempting to discredit the ANC government by creating the perception that it fails to deliver services.
