GOOD press statement by Gavin Joachims,
GOOD: City of Cape Town Councillor
26 May 2022
GOOD has today voted against the City of Cape Town’s Walking Bus Project because in its current form it does nothing to ensure that candidates are vetted before being exposed to our children and at the same time the recruitment process remains unfair.
This comes after the DA-run administration today at Council requested Council to approve the condonation of non-compliance with the Extended Public Work Programme and the Management of Council’s Job Seeker’s Database policies in respect of the City’s Walking Bus Project. R49,885,769.82 was allocated to this project in which individuals recruited have to walk children safely to and from school.
What is also of concern is that complaints have surfaced that the EPWP programme is being used as a tool to get votes. This is something the DA has long excoriated the ANC for doing yet it appears that it is doing it too. Residents allege that DA supporters are the main beneficiaries of job opportunities.
It is a fact that the City of Cape Town’s process for selecting EPWP beneficiaries was not randomised as it ought to have been to ensure fairness as per the City’s own EPWP policy. One can only assume that the DA is flagrantly ignoring its own policy documents for the purposes of benefitting friends and family as we have seen in other DA-run councils in the Western Cape.
To this end, GOOD rejected the DA’s request for condonation of non-compliance on the Walking Bus Project that is bereft of safety and fairness.
GOOD will be writing to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure to request a full investigation into these activities of the City of Cape Town. GOOD will not condone EPWP being used as a campaigning tool especially not at the expense of our people.
Media enquiries:
Gavin Joachims, GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor
Cell: 060 341 4091
Email: gavinjoachims@gmail.com
Samkelo Mgobozi, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 0792315977 (whatsapp)/0829684021 (calls)
Email: samm@forgood.org.za