Contractors hired by the Gauteng Department of Social Development to provide new school uniforms are left stranded as they have not yet paid for their services rendered since being hired in December 2023.
Some of these cooperatives have contacted the Democratic Alliance (DA), informing us that they have staged a sit-in at the department’s provincial headquarters since Monday, 6 May 2024 and that they have no intention of leaving until they are paid for their labour by the department’s MEC, Mbali Hlophe.
This is unacceptable and goes against the terms and conditions agreed upon by the department and the contractors. While we are shocked by this, we are not surprised because the department has become notorious for disregarding those it serves and those it appoints to provide services on its behalf.
The DA demands that the MEC do the right thing and pay these contractors for their services rendered. We will continue to liaise with the contractors to assist them in obtaining what is rightfully theirs.
Gauteng residents have a short time left to choose between enduring abuse from the ANC government or taking charge by electing a DA government that values their contractual agreements and supports vulnerable women who depend on these payments for survival.