By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
The Region E site manager, Cedric Chauke, strongly condemns the presumed sale of jobs in his workplace.
Chauke told Alex Reporter that he had been made aware of individuals selling jobs at the Region E Community Work Program (CWP).
“There are criminals who take money from people and promise them employment within CWP Region E.
“CWP is a government program which you do not have to pay anyone in order to be employed.
“I advise victims of such criminal behavior to report the fraudsters at the nearest police station or at the CWP office, Alexandra Stadium number 68-12th Avenue,” Chauke said.
Chauke emphasized that job applicants in the program should first register on the waiting list.
“Registration is carried out by a CWP supervisor in the ward where you reside. Also, being on the recruitment list does not guarantee when we will hire or add new participants to the program.”
He indicated that recruitment and the number of persons to be recruited were determined by the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) based on the following:
1.If the target number of 1000 has decreased by 20% (people who have found another job, people who have died and people who have left the Joburg region)
2. If COGTA allocated a budget for new recruits. All CWP participants are paid directly by the COGTA national office and budgets are assigned on an annual basis.
“It is with great disappointment that the poor in search of employment are taken for granted by these criminals who demand a bribe for the CWP work.
“As the Site Manager of Region E, I am available to assist victims of this bad behavior to open cases of fraud and theft against those who committed this crime.”
Chauke said that they are currently conducting a thorough investigation, as some of the accused were participating in the program, while others would be former program staff.
A 30-year-old woman who asked to remain anonymous said she had been asked to have sex with someone connected to get a job at CWP.
“These days, it’s either you open your legs or you remain unemployed.
“You buy or you sleep with them. That’s the way things are nowadays.”
Another female source, who previously worked for CWP and now works for a security firm in Wynberg, said:
“It’s not only at the CWP. In my workplace, a senior asked me for my punani to get a job. And I did that because I wanted a job so that I could support my three children.
“The security industry has become worse. Even to get promoted or posted on a good site, you have to give them your cake first,” said a 34-year-old woman.
