By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa defended the decision to reduce the number of participants in the Community Work Programme (CWP).
A circular issued on 24 December 2024 by the director-general of the department, revealed that more than 225,000 community-based positions, across all nine provinces are at risk because of a drastic reduction in funding from the National Treasury.
According to Cogta’s website, the Community Work Programme (CWP) is a government initiative to “provide a job safety net for unemployed people of working age. It provides a bridging opportunity for unemployed youth and others who are actively looking for employment opportunities”.
Purpose of the CWP
- To provide an employment safety net. The CWP recognises that sustainable employment solutions will take time, particularly in reaching marginal economic areas;
- To contribute to the development of public assets and services in poor communities;
- To strengthen community development approaches; and
- To strengthen the economic ‘agency’ of people in poor areas, providing work experience, enhancing dignity and promoting social and economic inclusion.
These people are not employed on a permanent basis. They are employed to acquire skills and exit the programme once they have acquired the skills to run their own businesses or seek other employment opportunities,” he said.
Hlabisa also emphasised the legal limitations on the department’s spending.
“The law does not allow the department to spend money it doesn’t have. Attempts were made in April to release participants aged 60 and above, as most received a pension grant, but this could not be implemented. Another attempt was made in September, but there wasn’t enough time to notify the employees. To ensure payment sustainability, we prioritised exiting participants aged 50 and above, allowing them to apply for pension grants, with some of them already receiving it.”
Civic organisation Save South Africa called for the department to reconsider its decision to cut jobs.
National communications director Tebogo Mashilompane National of the party said: “Save SA is disturbed by this announcement and calls on Cogta to reconsider its decision.
“We view this as a lack of timing and lack of proper planning. January is a crucial time for many South Africans, especially those who are underpaid and underemployed like community workers.” Mashilompane said.
Matthew Parks, Cosatu’s parliamentary coordinator, warned of the consequences for affected participants.
“This decision will plunge these individuals into extreme poverty. In an economy with a 41.9% unemployment rate, they will struggle to find alternative employment,” Parks said.
He said the government needs to find alternative solutions.
“We need a discussion with the government about a new local government model because, right now, many municipalities are on the verge of bankruptcy. Many of them use these CWP as a way of outsourcing permanent work to what has become cheap labour.”