Macpherson strips KZN politicians of power to select EPWP beneficiaries

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has effectively stripped KwaZulu-Natal politicians of their long-held influence over the recruitment of Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) beneficiaries, announcing that future selections will be conducted through a digitised system. Speaking at the launch of the Working on Infrastructure pilot programme in Durban on Monday, Macpherson said the move was a direct response to widespread allegations of patronage, corruption and abuse that have dogged the EPWP across the province and nationally. KZN and Limpopo would be the two provinces were the programme will be piloted before being rolled across the country.

“For too long, one of the biggest weaknesses in EPWP has been the human hand in the wrong place.” “When lists are controlled by individuals, the door opens to manipulation. When access depends on who you know, the door opens to patronage,” Macpherson said. Under the new system, recruitment will be conducted electronically via the SAYouth platform, effectively removing councillors and local political actors from the selection process.

The reform signals a decisive break from a system in which access to short-term work opportunities has often been mediated through political structures. “It means young people should not have to beg a councillor for a place on a list.” It means no one should have to produce a party card to access a public employment opportunity. “It means no one should have to pay a bribe,” he said.