EPWP Funding to eThekwini Suspended Following Auditor-General Irregularity Findings

Article by Maanea Maselesele, Pictures by Caroline Mokotedi

15 April 2026

“We are committed to safeguarding public funds and restoring the integrity of the EPWP through decisive corrective action,” said Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, during a media briefing held in uMhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal.

The briefing focused on the status of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. The Minister was joined by KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure, Martin Meyer, and Deputy Director-General responsible for EPWP, Carmen-Joy Abrahams, reflecting a coordinated government approach to strengthening oversight and accountability within the programme.

The media briefing follows the Auditor-General’s findings on the implementation of EPWP initiatives in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.The Auditor-General identified serious irregularities, including payments for services not rendered, as well as payments made to ghost, deceased, and ineligible beneficiaries. The municipality has further failed to act on these findings since the 2021/22 audit cycle, rendering the situation largely avoidable.

In response, the Minister has directed that EPWP funding to the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality be withheld for the 2026/27 financial year, pending urgent corrective action to address the material irregularities identified.

He further emphasised the importance of the EPWP application process, noting that access to application forms remains a critical entry point for communities seeking work opportunities. He stressed the need for fair, transparent, and efficient distribution processes to ensure that qualifying beneficiaries can meaningfully participate in the programme.

Minister Macpherson has given the municipality 30 days to table a council resolution to investigate the matter, implement a corrective action plan, and institute both disciplinary and criminal proceedings, as part of efforts to safeguard public funds and restore the integrity of the EPWP.