Activist and citizens forum spokesperson Dennis Bloem has described the alleged use of Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) funding for inflated salaries of former councilors at Matjhabeng Municipality in the Free State as a disgrace.

Bloem says poor people who depend on the programme to put bread on the table are left to suffer.

This comes after the Minister of Public Works Dean Macpherson halted funding of the programme at the municipality, pending investigations.

Macpherson’s decision follows allegations that politically connected individuals receive inflated salaries through the programme.

Bloem has called on the Department of Public Works to extend its investigations to other municipalities in the province.

“Corruption is a cancer in the ANC. Activists and citizens forum calls upon the Hawks to arrest all those who are involved in this blatant corruption by inflating the salaries of those politically connected cadres. There must be serious consequences for this corruption. We can’t go on like this forever,” Bloem explains.

Video: Matjhabeng Local Municipality | EPWP funds halted over salary irregularities