DA accuses ANC of trying to use EPWP funding to drum up support before elections

The DA has accused the ANC of attempting to utilize EPWP funding to gain voter support before the upcoming local government elections. During a contentious council meeting in Lephalale Local Municipality, the DA opposed a proposal to allocate a R2 million grant for the 2027-28 financial year to the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

The ANC-led council dismissed these allegations, stating the funds were necessary to increase EPWP working days from three to five, maintain a clean municipal environment, and improve park and open space maintenance. The DA's caucus leader, Johannes Diederik Nel, argued that the municipality's failure to meet EPWP opportunity targets for the past five years warranted caution.

He claimed the ANC was trying to use the funds for electioneering purposes, exposing a perceived double standard in how the ANC treats decisions affecting the incoming council. Nel also accused the ANC of prioritizing the next council's spending commitments over immediate resident needs. The municipal manager, Feziwe Nogilana-Raphela, acknowledged that the EPWP allocations were insufficient for achieving targets and recommended a baseline budget of R2 million for the upcoming financial year to supplement the grant.

This would allow more EPWP participants to work five days a week, improving street cleaning, litter picking, and park maintenance.