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The Democratic Alliance(DA) says it will refer the management of the Nasi iSpani programme and Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s irresponsible promises to the Public Protector for investigation.
According to the party, this comes after thirty-two thousand teacher assistants who were employed on a contractual basis through the Nasi iSpani programme are now left destitute.
The party maintained, this is after Premier Lesufi could not keep his promises towards them.
Lesufi who ascended to the role of premier in October 2022, launched the programme in June 2023 to address youth unemployment in the province.
Sergio Isa Dos Santos, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education said the recruits were originally appointed on a one-year contract but in February 2024 Lesufi promised a twelve-month extension of these contracts.
He stated that, however, the recruits have been informed that their contracts have been terminated with immediate effect.
“The Democratic Alliance (DA) warned from the start that Lesufi’s Nasi iSpani programme was nothing more than electioneering for the ANC at taxpayers’ expense.
“This has now been proven correct and Lesufi’s broken promises has left 32 000 teacher assistants with shattered dreams. His electioneering leaves a wake of broken dreams after broken promises.
Accountability of taxpayers’ money on Nasi iSpani programme
Dos Santos highlighted that governing a province like Gauteng requires responsible leadership and Lesufi’s irresponsible actions are causing more problems than solutions for the provincial government.
He continued; “Government cannot be managed according to whims of opportunism and Lesufi must account for the abuse of taxpayers’ money for his failed Nasi iSpani programme.
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“A DA government will not make irresponsible promises in the interest of political expediency and will keep Lesufi and his minority government to account for their failures.”
