MORE than 1 500 Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers have vowed not to return to work until their demands are met.
This after the workers, who were hired by the Polokwane Municipality in partnership with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment in December 2023, downed tools on Monday, 19 February over unpaid salaries.
They also marched to the municipal offices to voice their grievances, claiming they're not treated fairly. This is because some workers received their full salaries, some got half, while others didn't get anything at all.
Speaking to Daily Sun on condition of anonymity, they said they were promised they would get their salaries on 5 January, but to no avail.
“That didn't happen. We're asking ourselves why some workers were paid full salaries while others did not, even though we are doing the same job. We sense some sort of corrupt activities here,” said a 36-year-old worker.
They said some workers were paid for doing nothing. A 39-year-old worker said some workers spent over a month at home after they were hired.
“Apparently there were no protective gears for them to work in,” said the worker.
The workers said during the launch of the cleaning and greening programme, Polokwane Mayor John Mpe promised them that they are going to work and be able to provide for their families.
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“Instead, we're suffering because we can’t provide for our families. We're not going to return to work until we receive our salaries,” said another worker.
DA councillor Tiny Chidi said they asked for the establishment of an ad-hoc committee to monitor the programme as well as the recruitment process and reporting on its management and payments.
“Such a committee will ensure transparency and fairness and prevent the continuous protracted cadre deployment in the municipality,” she said.
Municipal spokeswoman Matshidiso Mothapo said the municipality is responsible for the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment, tools of trade and the allocation of daily tasks in line with the work plans signed by each participant, while the department is responsible for processing payment of participants' stipends.
Department spokesman Peter Mbelengwa said: “Participants who reported for duty, worked and submitted validated daily wage registers through the municipality were in the pay-run for 15 to 17 February. Participants who are yet to confirm banking details will be paid once the department receives valid banking details and verified wage registers.”
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