The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga is strongly concerned regarding claims by the Provincial Department of Public Works that Expanded Public Works (EPWP) positions designated for people with disabilities are not filled because they receive social grants, and some are reluctant to disclose disability statuses.
The DA strongly rejects the department’s explanation based on information we get when doing oversights that EPWP positions are used as rewards for ANC supporters, rather being allocated to people with disabilities and the deserving vulnerable communities.
A recent Fourth Quater Performance Report of the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport, indicates that they had a target of 157 EPWP positions reserved for people with disabilities for the 2025/2026 financial year, but only managed to fill only 16. The department claims that many people with disabilities show minimal participation in the EPWP program because they receive social grants. The department also claimed that others are not participating in the EPWP program because they are reluctant to disclose their disability status.
The department also claims in the same report that they advertised five Senior Management Service positions for people with disabilities in the 2025/2026 financial year, but they could not fill any of them because they could not find candidates with the required skills and expertise in the department’s core business areas.
The Provincial Public Works Department, and the rest of the Mpumalanga Government, must partner with organizations supporting persons with disabilities. That would give them a direction on how to improve their EPWP intake and fill senior positions advertised for people with disabilities.
The Mpumalanga Government must also be reminded that South Africa’s new Employment Equity Regulations, which came into force on 1 January 2025, calls for workforce in Public and Private institutions or companies to be 3% persons living with disabilities. The Act also empowers the Department of Labour to issue fines against both public and private institutions that failed to meet these equity targets.
As a constitutional democracy, we cannot allow millions of differently abled persons to remain excluded from the opportunities they should be able to access, which gives dignity and ensures equality. The DA will continue to fight for their rights, and we will continue to push government to comply with the new Employment Equity Amendment Act and make jobs and business opportunities available for persons living with disabilities.
Social grants must not be an excuse to exclude people with disabilities from EPWP opportunities and businesses in government.