03/09/2026
๐ฉ๐ ๐ฃ๐น๐๐-๐ธ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฃ๐ช๐ฃ-๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ข๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ป
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ผ๐น๐น ๐ฑ๐ผ๐๐ป ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ป๐ด๐น๐ถ๐๐ต ๐
Philip Olyn, VF Plus-kandidaat vir wyk 6 in Oudtshoorn, eis deursigtigheid oor die jongste aanstellings binne die Uitgebreide Openbare Werke-program (EPWP) en sรช werklose inwoners verdien โn billike kans op werksgeleenthede.
Volgens inligting wat aan die VF Plus verskaf is, is 108 persone onlangs deur die EPWP aangestel.
Olyn sรช indien diรฉ syfer korrek is, moet die Oudtshoorn-munisipaliteit bekend maak hoe die deelnemers gekies is, uit watter wyke hulle kom, watter keuringskriteria toegepas is, waar hulle ontplooi is en hoe lank hul kontrakte duur.
Dit volg op klagtes uit die gemeenskap dat sommige persone na bewering reeds vir โn tweede of selfs derde keer EPWP-werksgeleenthede ontvang, terwyl ander werklose inwoners al jare op die databasis geregistreer is sonder om โn enkele geleentheid te kry.
โHoe is dit moontlik dat dieselfde mense vir โn tweede of derde keer gekies word terwyl ander jare lank wag? Wie doen die keuring, volgens watter metode word mense gekies en hoe word verseker dat elke werklose inwoner โn billike kans kry?
โDit is vrae waarop die gemeenskap duidelike en verifieerbare antwoorde verdien,โ sรช Olyn.
Volgens hom gaan dit nie daaroor om enige persoon wat wettig en billik aangestel is, โn geleentheid te ontneem nie, maar om seker te maak dat die stelsel regverdig en deursigtig funksioneer.
โEk ken my gemeenskap en sien daagliks wat werkloosheid aan huishoudings doen. Vir โn werklose ouer kan selfs โn tydelike EPWP-geleentheid kos op die tafel en broodnodige inkomste vir โn gesin beteken. Daarom moet elke inwoner kan vertrou dat die proses billik is.โ
Die nasionale EPWP-werwingsriglyne bepaal dat werwing โn voorspelbare metode moet volg wat gelyke geleenthede aan lede van die teikengemeenskap bied. Die proses mag nie vir gewin gemanipuleer word nie en politieke affiliasie mag nie as grondslag vir diskriminasie dien nie.
Die riglyne vereis ook deursigtigheid en verantwoordbaarheid. Gemeenskappe moet die geleentheid hรช om die werwingsproses te monitor en waar bepaalde vaardighede vereis word, moet keuringskriteria vooraf vasgestel word.
Dit strook met artikel 195 van die Grondwet, wat onder meer bepaal dat openbare administrasie verantwoordbaar moet wees, deursigtigheid bevorder moet word en dienste onpartydig, billik en sonder vooroordeel gelewer moet word.
โDie beste manier om wantroue en enige persepsie van bevoordeling uit die weg te ruim, is om die proses oop te stel. Verduidelik hoe die keuring gedoen word en waarom iemand wat reeds โn EPWP-geleentheid gehad het, weer gekies kan word terwyl ander steeds wag,โ sรช Olyn.
Die Oudtshoorn-munisipaliteit se 2026/27-konsepbegroting dui โn nasionale EPWP-toekenning van R1,874 miljoen aan.
Olyn sรช inwoners het die reg om te weet hoe openbare geld aangewend word en wie by werkskeppingsprogramme baat.
โEPWP-geleenthede behoort nie vir โn klein groepie mense gereserveer te word nie. Dit moet die werklose inwoners vir wie die program bedoel is, op โn billike en deursigtige manier bereik.
โDie mense van wyk 6 en die groter Oudtshoorn vra nie vir gunsies nie. Hulle vra vir โn regverdige kans en โn plaaslike regering wat na hulle luister en teenoor hulle verantwoordbaar is.
โDit is waarvoor ek as kandidaat vir wyk 6 sal opstaan: โn gemeenskap waar elke inwoner gehoor word en waar geleenthede billik en deursigtig toegeken word,โ sรช Olyn.
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๐ฉ๐ ๐ฃ๐น๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฃ๐ช๐ฃ ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ข๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ป
Philip Olyn, VF Plus candidate for Ward 6 in Oudtshoorn, is demanding transparency regarding the latest appointments under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), saying unemployed residents deserve a fair chance at employment opportunities.
According to information provided to the VF Plus, 108 people were recently appointed through the EPWP.
Olyn says that if this figure is correct, the Oudtshoorn Municipality should disclose how the participants were selected, which wards they come from, what selection criteria were applied, where they have been deployed and how long their contracts will run.
This follows complaints from the community that some people have allegedly received EPWP work opportunities for a second or even third time, while other unemployed residents have been registered on the database for years without receiving a single opportunity.
โHow is it possible that the same people are selected for a second or third time while others have been waiting for years? Who conducts the selection, what method is used to select participants, and how is it ensured that every unemployed resident gets a fair chance?
โThese are questions to which the community deserves clear and verifiable answers,โ says Olyn.
According to him, the issue is not about depriving anyone who was lawfully and fairly appointed of an opportunity, but about ensuring that the system operates fairly and transparently.
โI know my community and I see every day what unemployment does to households. For an unemployed parent, even a temporary EPWP opportunity can mean food on the table and much-needed income for a family. That is why every resident should be able to trust that the process is fair.โ
The national EPWP recruitment guidelines stipulate that recruitment should follow a predictable method that provides equal opportunities to members of the target community. The process may not be manipulated for gain, and political affiliation may not be used as a basis for discrimination.
The guidelines also require transparency and accountability. Communities should have an opportunity to monitor the recruitment process and, where specific skills are required, selection criteria should be determined in advance.
This is also in line with section 195 of the Constitution, which provides, among other things, that public administration must be accountable, transparency must be fostered, and services must be provided impartially, fairly and without bias.
โThe best way to eliminate mistrust and any perception of favouritism is to open up the process. Explain how the selection is conducted and why someone who has already had an EPWP opportunity can be selected again while others are still waiting,โ says Olyn.
The Oudtshoorn Municipalityโs 2026/27 draft budget indicates a national EPWP allocation of R1,874 million.
Olyn says residents have the right to know how public money is spent and who benefits from employment programmes.
โEPWP opportunities should not be reserved for a small group of people. They should reach the unemployed residents for whom the programme is intended in a fair and transparent manner.
โThe people of Ward 6 and greater Oudtshoorn are not asking for favours. They are asking for a fair chance and a local government that listens to them and is accountable to them.
โThat is what I will stand for as the Ward 6 candidate: a community where every resident is heard and where opportunities are allocated fairly and transparently,โ says Olyn.