EPWP program haunts Free State Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation

The Free State Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation is again in the spotlight not for Macufe or an indefinite month-to-month security contract that dates back to 2018 but for the EPWP project.

A leaked letter from Goitsemang Pholo, office of the deputy director performing, visual, arts and craft to staff paints a picture that the department is spitting in the face of communities.

While the whereabouts of Limakatso Mahasa, MEC for SACR remain unknown following the appointment of Montsheng Tsiu, MEC for Health to act as SACR MEC till today, 09 November 2022, fingers are pointing at Mahasa for allegedly submitting a list of 44 people to be incorporated in the EPWP program without being interviewed as required.

According to a separate letter from Moipone Mokhutle-Moroka in possession of this publication, the interviews were scheduled as follows:

26 September 2022 – Fezile Dabi
27 September 2022 – Mangaung Metro
27 September 2022 – Lejweleputswa
28 September 2022 – Xhariep
28 September 2022 – Thabo Mofutsanyane

A month later, on 17 October 2022 roughly 20 days after the interviews Pholo sent correspondence to staff.

“On 17 October 2022, I sent you a letter requesting that you accommodate 24 new entrants/fieldworkers from the office of the MEC. In the letter, I indicated that it is “24 so far” which meant that it was not conclusive and there were probabilities of those numbers increasing or decreasing.”

Pholo further states he is aware that staff is uncomfortable with the numbers, especially around the profiles of people brought by MEC.

“The current updated total of new entrants through the office of the MEC is 44. Colleagues, I am aware that we are uncomfortable with these numbers especially the profile of the people that are submitted as beneficiaries to the program from the office of the MEC and this matter has been discussed either telephonically and/or face to face with the acting HoD, CFO and CD.

While we are all in agreement that the program and its recruitment processes are flawed, it is up to ourselves -Arts and Culture as custodians to make sure that we work efficiently and smartly with regards to recruitment now and in the future.”

What is very interesting is the 44 people dumped into the program without interviews have at least been discussed with senior managers and they see nothing wrong with ratifying the wrong things but this should not amuse you as they have done worse with impunity.

The saddest part is the 44 deserving people will be kicked out after being told they were successful.

What is also appalling is the 44 people allegedly submitted by MEC will be interviewed after the closing date which was 29 September 2022, that’s if they have not been interviewed already by the MECs office.

This department never ceases to amaze, they lost bid documents for statues tender, and it’s business, as usual, meaning a person or people decided to steal department bid documents, the question is who had access to those documents and date no investigation.

Without pointing fingers how is it acceptable that a department can have acting MEC, acting HoD, acting CFO, and acting Supply Chain Director?

Clearly the centre is not holding.

MEC Mahasa could not be reached for comment.

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