The delay in processing payment of stipends to over 7 000 Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) beneficiaries employed by the North West Department of Public Works, Road and Transport was caused by unavailability of Personnel and Salary System (Persal) due to a Provincial Information Technology system crash and not unavailability of funds or human error, the North West Provincial Government asserted on Wednesday.
The provincial government sympathises with the EPWP beneficiaries who did not receive their stipends in their bank accounts on 31 January 2012 and appeals for calm as the matter is being investigated and receiving attention at the highest level.
Acting MEC for the Department, Raymond Elisha has assured Premier Mme Thandi Modise that the first batch of payments would be deposited tomorrow, Thursday, 2 February 2012 and the last batch would be deposited into the accounts of the beneficiaries on Monday, 6 February 2012.
As per agreement reached between the beneficiaries and the Acting Head of the Department, Andrew Kyereh in December, every effort is being made to pay half of the claims that are three to four times above the expected task while balances are to be settled as soon as audits are completed.
The crash was allegedly caused by constant power failure experienced in the Mmabatho area and did not only affect the EPWP beneficiaries but also affected other public servants in the employ of the provincial government.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 391 0420
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 381 0328
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
