Cape Town — Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, has cleared the air over the confusion that all government workers in the province are no longer employed under the Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP).
The speculation comes after an online letter leaked suggesting that the province’s “Green Army” – known as AmaPanyaza – would be disbanded. The letter stated that the contracts came to an end on 31 May, and the said the workers would be paid for June, but there may be payment delays, The Citizen reported.
After the letter began circulating online, Lesufi said it was written without his consent. Taking to X, he eased all fears over the future of the employees, and said the Green Army was “going nowhere”.
“Going nowhere! There’s confusion about the EPWP green army contracts and the continued employment of the Gauteng Traffic Wardens. The EPWP green army are mandated to clean our environment and waste removal while the Gauteng Traffic Warden are protecting us against crime,” he said.
Going nowhere! There’s confusion about the EPWP green army contracts and the continued employment of the Gauteng Traffic Wardens. The EPWP green army are mandated to clean our environment and waste removal while the Gauteng Traffic Warden are protecting us against crime pic.twitter.com/JqTodpHH86
— Panyaza Lesufi (@Lesufi) June 27, 2024
Speaking on Thursday morning, Lesufi said that 2000 new recruits were due at a Northern Cape army base for training.
“That is the difficulty that we are in, there is no MEC, there is no minister, there is no deputy minister. In the age of disinformation, anyone can pick up something in the public space and say what they want to say. Let’s hope this matter comes to an end,” he said.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: X/@Lesufi
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Matthew Petersen
