Gauteng DA criticises Lesufi on decision to revive Nasi Ispani programme
The party's Refiloe Ntsekhe launched an attack against Lesufi at the weekend, pointing to the initiative’s collapse in March.
FILE: Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi. Picture: X/GautengProvince
JOHANNESBURG - The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has criticised the province’s Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, on his decision to revive the controversial Nasi Ispani programme, which government hopes will create 40,000 jobs in its return.
The party's Refiloe Ntsekhe launched an attack against Lesufi at the weekend, pointing to the initiative’s collapse in March.
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Thousands of people were left jobless when their temporary Nasi Ispani contracts abruptly ended due to budget constraints.
Ntsekhe claimed that the funds were redirected from other Social Development programmes to cover the contracts, further claiming that other vital Social Development projects suffered as a result.
She said the party wants the province’s MEC for Social Development, Faith Mazibuko, to account for the source of funding in the first round of the initiative launched ahead of 2024's general elections.
“With the questions to MEC Faith Mazibuko, she said in Social Development, they had ended the project on the 31st of March 205, and in the previous questions, recently she indicated that R48 million had been taken from poverty alleviation programmes to fund Nasi Ispani in Social Development.”