Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi convened a late-night meeting with directors-general and heads of departments (HODs) this week in the wake of confusion over employment contracts for his jobs-drive initiative.
This week, there was a clash in communication from the provincial government about the employment of thousands of expanded public works programme (EPWP) “green army” workers.
Lesufi on Wednesday shared a picture of a letter, signed under the name of acting head of the agriculture, rural development and environment department in Gauteng Khulekani Mase, informing EPWP employees their contracts were ending.
He, however, said the workers remained employed and that he would iron matters out with department heads, whom he met on Thursday night.
Lesufi was adamant he had a plan for workers whose contracts had expired.
“At the end of the sixth administration we established a task team to take stock of all the contracts that were coming to an end. Since being elected as the premier in the seventh administration, a report was presented and adopted on how we would manage the contracts that are coming to an end,” he said.
The “green army” was launched last May under the EPWP and focused on waste management and food security in Gauteng as part of Lesufi’s jobs drive. It employed more than 6,000 people.
Modiegi Mashamaite
www.timeslive.co.za
