Central SA
Matjhabeng must terminate contracts of EPWP support unit by October─── ZENANDE MPAME 13:23 Tue, 09 Sep 2025
The Matjhabeng Municipality is required to terminate all Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) contracts for workers paid from the municipal budget by the end of October.
During a recent workshop, the National Treasury’s Municipal Financial Recovery Services (MFRS) unit revealed that Matjhabeng had spent more than R10 million from its municipal budget to fund the EPWP support unit. This information was presented to municipal councillors by both the provincial and national treasuries on Thursday (4/9) when the MFRS unit submitted its report.
Minister of public works and infrastructure Dean Macpherson called for an immediate stop to all EPWP transfers to the municipality pending a full investigation in July after allegations of abuse of the EPWP funds were questioned by the portfolio committee on Cogta.
“The report provided comprehensive findings that there was a co-funding of the EPWP grant by 63% which is R4.7 million in 2023/24 and 86% which is R10.25 million in the 2024/25 financial year,” the treasury report showed. This included the irregular appointment of seven employees in the executive mayor’s office (the EPWP support unit) in posts that are not in the organisational structure.
“The recruitment process for EPWP intake must strictly adhere to the EPWP national guidelines and ministerial determinations. The municipality is required to terminate contracts of the EPWP workers paid from the municipal co-funding budget by the end of October 2025, to have a 100% reduction on the co-funding of the EPWP grant, which is R10.25 million.”
The municipality welcomed the findings of the investigation that confirm that all EPWP funds in the municipality were fully accounted for and used on approved projects.
The individuals who came into the spotlight for earning R31,691 per month from the programme were part of an EPWP support unit created by the municipality in February 2024, housed in the mayor’s office and funded entirely through the municipal budget.
Due to the strain on finances resulting from the inappropriate use of funds for salaries that exceed the allowed pay scales, the treasury ordered a hold on hiring for all new posts, except for the municipal manager’s position.
An inquiry was sent to the Matjhabeng municipality.
