Durban — The uMkhonto weSizwe Party has entered the fray in the former Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers saga who have been protesting since their employment was terminated due to reduced funding for the programme.

About 34 protesters were arrested by Metro Police at a park near the Durban City Hall after they took off their clothes and protested naked last Thursday.

On Tuesday, the former EPWP workers appeared at the Durban Magistrate’s Court charged with indecent exposure and dancing naked in public despite being above the age of 18, disobeying the law when they were told to move out of the park by the officers and for not dispersing when ordered to do so.

Magistrate Ashwin Singh postponed the matter to February 12 next year for the presentation of evidence by witnesses, which may include statements or reports from the municipality.

The MK Party representative from ward 26, Sifiso Xulu said he and other party members were in the court to support the former EPWP workers who, in their opinion, deserved to be addressed by their former employer over their grievances.

He said the City should not treat them as strangers as they had worked with the City for a decade.

“They are allowed to have grievances and the City should explain to them how they came to the dismissal of these workers as many of them claim to have issues with the transparency,” he said.

The municipality has repeatedly said that the termination of their group’s jobs was due to a budget cut by the Department of Public Works by R42 million to R18m for the 2024/25 financial year. This dramatic reduction meant the number of participants on the programme had to be cut from 4000 to just 1276.

Outside Court, the protesters’ lawyer, Jose Uqueio, from MacGregor Erasmus Attorneys, said that he was confident that the case would favour the former workers.

However, he said he would also engage with the workers to strengthen their case.

Former EPWP worker Zanele Memela said last Thursday the workers had been cornered by the officers who demanded they leave the park even after they explained they had nowhere else to go.

She said they were now facing a dark Christmas as they had no money to buy their children neither food nor clothing.

The sit-in at the park opposite the City Hall has now entered its third week, a persistent display of grievance organised by a group led by Slindile Sokhela.

Joe Mabaso, the First Deputy President of the Municipal and Allied Trade Union of South Africa (Matusa), condemned the municipality's stance on the EPWP matter.

“We are at war with the Mayor and his manager for not addressing this matter.

“The arrogance they have shown is worrying,” he said.

A request for comment was sent to the eThekwini mayor’s office, but a response had not been received by the publication time.

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