Unemployed people are going to desperate lengths to secure EPWP jobs
Cape Town - The high unemployment rate has driven some people to take drastic measures to secure employment.
ANC councillor Melikhaya Gadeni from Ward 34 said he had been inundated with sexual requests in exchange for employment in the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
Through the EPWP, municipalities across the country offer temporary jobs to unemployed people. To be considered for employment, job seekers need to register on the municipal database.
Taking to his social media accounts where he usually posts updates about developments in his ward, Gadeni released a statement pleading with residents to refrain from offering him sex and money in exchange for jobs.
“I would like to address the people of my ward,” he said. “As the councillor, I do not hire people. The City of Cape Town uses the EPWP jobseeker database to select people for employment. This is why I always encourage people to go register at sub council 13 offices or at the civic centre.”
He added that sending him messages will not assist and the registration on the database makes the process free from manipulation by community leaders.
“I do not sell jobs, stop offering me money. I do not do jobs for sex, stop offering me sex.”
Gadeni said he had to say this publicly as the requests were growing.
In June, the City said more than 30 000 EPWP work opportunities were created in the 2021/22 financial year.
Mayco member for Urban Waste Management Grant Twigg reminded residents that no payment was required to add one’s name on the job seekers database.
“We are constantly doing job seekers registration drives to encourage people to register on the database. Please bring your ID or a valid work permit to the local sub-council office to register. This process is free. No payment is necessary to access forms or put your name on the database.”
Explaining how the selection is done, he said EPWP opportunities were allocated on a randomised basis.
“For each project, candidates are randomly selected from the job seekers database. Previously benefiting from EPWP does not disqualify job seekers from being randomly selected in subsequent years.”