The Minister of Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Mr. Velenkosoni Hlabisa held meetings with the leadership of Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU); South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) and Maanda Ashu Workers Union of South Africa (MAWUSA) today, 24 January 2025.

The meetings discussed two key areas – (1) Community Works Programme (CWP); and (2) issues affecting local government.

On CWP funding, the meeting was appraised on the recent developments regarding the budget. Treasury provided funds that made it possible to extend the contracts of all participants who are 55 years and above. The unions also raised the issue of underpayment and lack of benefits for participants. The department will continue to engage all stakeholders to find a lasting solution on the issue of funds for CWP.

After a meeting with both COSATU and SAMWU, Minister Hlabisa led another meeting with MAWUSA on the issue of CWP. The Union made of participants also enquired about the issue of funding and the cancellation of contracts. They were briefed about processes underway to secure more funding. A follow-up meeting will be held before the end of March 2025.

Pertaining to the issue of funding, CoGTA will continue to engage with all the relevant stakeholders to find mechanisms to make the budget available. The meeting also touched on the need to leverage partnerships with the other sectors as this will go a long way to assist both the program and participants.

The meeting also discussed issues affecting local government, which included but were not limited to the following:

– Late payments of salaries
– Municipal funding
– Instability in Municipalities
– Outsourcing Municipal Services
– Fraud and Corruption
– Victimisation of municipal officials
– Wage gap
– Municipal grading
– DDM implementation
– Stabilisation and
– Service delivery.

The discussion will still ensue in the above-mentioned areas to ensure that all stakeholders reach a common ground. All stakeholders in the meeting appreciated the open and frank engagement and agreed to convene regularly in pursuit of finding concrete resolutions. Additionally, they resolved to establish a technical team that will conduct an in-depth analysis of the main challenges raised and the impact of the programme. Once the technical team has completed the investigation, they are to furnish Political Principals with the assessment report.

The team will be made up of various structures, with members who possess different skill sets. This will ensure that matters of concern in the sector are thoroughly ventilated and plans are put in place to address challenges.

Minister Hlabisa is committed to ensuring that discussions with all relevant stakeholders will be underway to deliberate on how best to reposition the programme and find permanent solutions to all areas of concern.

Enquiries:

Ms. Pearl Maseko-Binqose
Media Liaison Officer for the Minister of COGTA
+27 (82) 772 1709

Mr. Legadima Leso
COGTA Head of Communications
+27 (66) 479 9904

Issued by the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs