We are on a go-slow, and with good reason, said general workers of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in Kimberley in the Northern Cape.
They want to put the record straight, and want to comment on the remark made by the premier of the Northern Cape, Dr Zamani Saul, on the EPWP workers during his State of the Province Address (Sopa) on 6 March. In his address, Saul said it is not uncommon to see these workers sleeping under a tree for the whole day.
Christopher Plaaitjies of the EPWP, falling under the Sol Plaatje Municipality (SPM) projects, says they have a long list of grievances that, regardless of communication and letters of demand written from their side, are ignored.
Do not earn amount agreed upon
Their main grievance is that they are not paid the amount which was agreed upon. A letter dated 12 September 2024, written to the premier, stated: “We as the Sol Plaatje Municipality General Workers are writing this letter with regards to our monthly stipend, as we do not earn the amount that we have agreed upon which is R3 800.”
Their basic salary is still R2 600, with some working for years on the project without any increase.
“We are underpaid, for years now,” one remarks.
‘We are underpaid, for years now.’ – EPWP general worker
Another concern regarding their payment is that the amount on their salary slips differs from the amount that is paid into their bank account. They ask: “What happens to the money that we do not get? And why was it deducted?”
Apart from yearning for an opportunity to be permanently employed, they long for a proper meeting to clarify their concerns.
In letters of demand handed over to the offices of the premier and the mayor on Thursday, 13 March, they demand, amongst other, a 38% increase in salary, and proper holiday leave, especially over December.
Picking up rubbish, grass, thorns with bare hands
Another concern is the fact that they have to work without any personal protective equipment (PPE).
“We have to pick up rubbish with our bare hands, as well as the grass, thorns and branches.” Another one comments, saying “injuries are at your own risk when working here.” Working in the conditions they do – without protective clothing, safety shoes and more – snakes and spiders are also not uncommon. Also, many of the teams do not even get warning cones when working next to streets.
One of the teams only have two spades and one broken rake. Proper equipment to work with is also urgently needed.
Another great concern is the absence of a mobile toilet on the work site.
‘Where should we go, especially the women, when we need to use a toilet?’
A frustration is that in many cases the black bags they fill with plant materials, are not removed by the SPM. Sometimes they return to a spot after a period of time, just to find the bags still there, says Proedins Doris Williams.
‘Why is it that when we are working, they do not see us?’
Every EPWP general worker can tell his or her story about a typical exhausting day, working in extreme weather conditions without proper PPE. Their summer work time is from 06:00 to 14:00 and in winter from 07:00 to 15:00, with a lunch-break at 10:00.
Other grievances include the lack of site visits, and the proper training of coordinators and team-leaders.
A frustrated Plaaitjies asks: “Why is it that when we are working, they do not see us?” He suggests that when anyone sees the EPWP people who are not working, they “get out of your vehicle and ask why”.
Another one agrees, saying “all the officials that have problems with us, come out of your office and experience what we have to do”.
“We are the hands of these officials. Why don’t they do their work in the offices – all we want is basic workers’ rights and the correct salary,” says one of the workers, commenting that most of them are single parents, or the sole provider in a family.
Williams says some members of the public think the workers are illiterate, but “here are persons with matric. Due to scarcity of work, they do not have other options.”
Comment from the SPM will be shared once received, as well as the awaited response in ten days’ time from the offices of the premier and mayor.
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