The General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (Giwusa) has come out guns blazing against the ANC government as they demand that the Green Army be reinstated permanently.
The union accuses the Gauteng provincial department of agriculture and rural development of having duped citizens. It said desperate citizens were hoodwinked to vote for the party after promises of jobs.
The union’s demands come after Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi on Thursday evening disputed talk about his Nasi iSpani. He labelled claims that the Nasi iSpani programme has been cancelled as spiteful, fictitious, and without foundation.
Lesufi was responding to social media posts alleging that Nasi iSpani has terminated the contracts of those employed under it. Nasi iSpani is a mass recruitment programme that he initiated.
Lesufi distanced himself from the Green Army jobs
The allegations stem from an internal departmental circular that was leaked. It was intended for Green Army Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) members. The circular informed them that their one-year contract was ending in May 2024.
In a statement he issued on Thursday, Lesufi said the public has mistaken the EPWP Green Army for the Gauteng Traffic Wardens.
Among GIWUSA’s demands, it wants the programme to offer decent wages.
“The way this matter has been managed demonstrates poor planning, and a poor understanding of sustainability. Maintaining and climate-proofing human settlements and infrastructure is a sensible and safer use of public money.
“We only have to look at the flooding, droughts and other impacts of the environmental and climate change crisis. This shows the results of poor decisions,” reads the statement.
An end-of-contract notification letter stated that the programme has lapsed. It said all those who worked beyond contractual obligations would be compensated.
Contracts ended two days after elections
The 12-month programme allegedly ended two days after the general elections in May. Green Army EPWP served to maintain environments and establish food gardens.
Giwusa said it was unfair that the programme only lasted until after the elections. This made it seem like it was only used for gaining votes.
“The move has inevitably left our people stranded, without any sense of financial security. Not only that, but it will leave our streets filthy, especially those in the inner city. The department says there will be delays in the payment for work completed in June. This is because of administrative and systematic procedures.
Union wants contracts reinstated, made permanent
“But this will just leave people with debts and late payment penalties for whatever accounts they may have,” reads the statement.
The union insists that poverty will worsen. It said everyone who was on the programme will now have to depend on the R370 social relief distress grant.
They added that the ANC has taken its citizens for a ride and exploited their desperation for employment.
