R130 Stipend Offered by Panyaza Lesufi for Jobs Initiative Sparks Outrage in Mzansi: “It’s a Disgrace”

• Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has landed himself in the crosshairs of the South African public
• Lesufi posted a job creation project which offered to pay 6 000 prospective workers a R130 daily stipend
• The stipend failed to impress and has been slammed by citizens for being way below the minimum wage

JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has landed himself in some very hot water over a well-intentioned but poorly received job opportunity initiative.

The premier posted a flyer on Twitter advertising that the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment is looking for 6 000 people to help keep the province clean.

The workers would be spread across the West Rand, Erurhuleni, Tshwane, Sedibeng and Johannesburg and would be paid R130 a day for 12 months.

Read also

Bonnie Mbuli complains about buying 1kg maize meal for R240 in America, Mzansi stunned: "It's too much"

The R130 stipend is well below the minimum wage, making South Africans mad

Though the initiative is impressive and plans to employ thousands, citizens were taken aback by how little government is offering to pay.

According to TimesLIVE, the minimum wage in the country is R23.19 an hour, which translates to R3 710 monthly take-home salary. Many online quickly pointed out that the R130 daily stipend doesn't come close to the minimum wage when accumulated.

Here's what South Africans are saying:

@Nyeleti1818 said:

"Some people were insulting a guy from Kempton Park who pays R4 000 + food for his helper."

@TebelloHlongwan suggested:

"R130, that's little, at least R200, improve the standard of leaving for the vulnerable people."

@sphamindlos asked:

"R650 per week including foot and travelling costs, you are not serious, right?"

Read also

Transnet accidentally pays 26k workers twice, leaving SA unimpressed: “Incompetence at the highest levels”

@Sparda71 added:

"It's not even the minimum wage they are forcing private companies to pay."

@Celly020102 condemned:

"About R2 600, the whole government not sticking to its minimal wage standard. Mxm."

@NolueLove slammed:

"R130 a day... These leaders never loved anyone but their pockets."

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi wants to write off Soweto’s R5 billion Eskom debt, Mzansi fuming

In another story, Briefly News reported that Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi wants Eskom to write off the R5 billion debt accumulated by Soweto residents.

He visited Zola 3 in Soweto, where he addressed community members about electricity and safety challenges in the area. Community members from Zola, Naledi and other parts of Soweto gathered at Emzansi Park to discuss their issues with the premier.

Angry residents also voiced their frustrations about the Eskom cutting off their power due to non-payment. However, his plans for Soweto left the rest of Mzansi annoyed.

Source: Briefly News