Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has directed officials to launch an urgent investigation into claims that Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) participants in the Bojanala District Municipality in North West were forced to do domestic chores for a mayoral committee member and coerced into paying political party membership fees.
The allegations, first reported in the Sunday Times, have raised serious concerns about the misuse of a programme meant to create dignified jobs for unemployed South Africans.
The Minister’s office issued a media statement on 2 November 2025, condemning the reported actions as a potential “serious abuse of power” and a betrayal of the EPWP’s purpose. Macpherson stressed that if proven true, such misconduct would not be tolerated, and his department would take swift action against any guilty officials or politicians as part of broader reforms to make the programme more transparent and free from interference.
Details of the Shocking Allegations
The claims centre on EPWP workers in Bojanala District Municipality being exploited for personal gain.
According to the Sunday Times report, participants were allegedly made to perform household tasks for a mayoral committee member (MMC) and pressured to hand over money for her political party’s membership fees. This came to light through whistleblower accounts, highlighting how vulnerable job seekers in the programme were targeted.
Bojanala, which includes areas like Rustenburg and Madibeng, has faced service delivery issues in the past, including water shortages and infrastructure backlogs. The EPWP, aimed at providing short-term work in public projects like road maintenance and community services, employs thousands in the district to build skills and reduce poverty. However, these allegations suggest a distortion of its goals, turning it into a tool for personal or political benefit.
While the specific MMC’s name was not disclosed in the initial report, the claims point to involvement from local political figures. Similar issues have cropped up in other municipalities, where EPWP funds meant for community upliftment end up misused.
Minister Macpherson’s Swift Response and Commitment to Reform
In his statement, Macpherson said: “If these claims are true, they represent a serious abuse of power and a betrayal of public trust. The EPWP was created to empower communities, not to serve anyone’s personal or political interests, which is why I have requested departmental officials to work with their provincial counterparts in the North West, as well as the Bojanala District Municipality, to verify the allegations and determine whether national EPWP funds were misused and if the recruitment policy was abused. Any individual found to have benefited improperly would face swift and appropriate action, including possible criminal referral.”
The Minister also shared his directive on social media, posting: “This morning, I requested officials to urgently investigate allegations that EPWP participants in the Bojanala District Municipality were forced to perform domestic work for a MMC and pay political membership fees to their party. If true, this would represent a serious abuse of power and a betrayal of the purpose of the EPWP, which exists to create dignified, skills-based work opportunities for unemployed South Africans, not to serve personal or political interests. EPWP is too important to too many communities to be abused which is why we must protect it from misuse.”
Macpherson reaffirmed that the department will take action against any guilty parties and push for reforms to enhance transparency and accountability in the EPWP. He added: “There will be zero tolerance for any misuse of this programme. Public money must never be used to advance private gain, and I look forward to soon communicating with the public on the outcome of the investigation.”
Background on the EPWP and Its Vulnerabilities
The Expanded Public Works Programme, launched in 2004, is a government initiative to provide temporary work and skills training to unemployed people, focusing on infrastructure, environment, and social services. It has created millions of job opportunities nationwide, but has faced criticism for corruption, political patronage, and poor oversight in some areas.
In North West, the programme employs thousands in rural and urban districts like Bojanala, where unemployment is high. However, reports of abuse are not new – workers have complained of low pay, unsafe conditions, and favouritism in recruitment. The Sunday Times exposé follows a pattern seen elsewhere, where EPWP participants are allegedly exploited for non-programme tasks or forced to support political agendas.
Nationally, the EPWP has been hit by scandals, prompting calls for tighter controls. In 2024, audits revealed irregularities in fund allocation, with some municipalities failing to report on job creation outcomes.
Previous Similar Cases and Ongoing Reforms
This probe echoes a recent investigation in Matjhabeng Local Municipality in Free State, where Macpherson ordered a review in July 2025 following claims of EPWP funds being used for inflated salaries and political perks. That inquiry, released in August 2025, cleared the municipality of major abuse but highlighted systemic issues, leading to suspensions and calls for better monitoring. In Matjhabeng, the department found no evidence of widespread fraud but recommended reforms to prevent future misuse.
Macpherson has made EPWP integrity a priority since taking office, suspending funding in some cases and pushing for nationwide listening tours to hear community concerns. In August 2025, he released findings from the Matjhabeng probe, emphasising the need to protect the programme from corruption. Similar actions in other provinces, like Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, have led to arrests and recoveries of misused funds.
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