A Buffalo City Metro cleaner claims she has been fired after blowing the whistle on alleged RDP housing allocation fraud.
Bukeka Maxeke from Mathemba Vuso informal settlement in NU3 said she was appointed under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to clean public toilets around the metro two years ago – but that she had received an sms sent on June 1 from councillor Pumla Yenani “firing” her from her position.
Maxeke earlier blew the whistle, alleging Yenani had allowed “strangers” to take over 17 RDP houses illegally.
Speaking to the Dispatch yesterday Yenani confirmed sending the text saying: “Please stop cleaning the toilets from today as I have found someone to replace you.”
But Yenani said replacing Maxeke had nothing to do with the fraud allegations and everything to do with Maxeke failing to do her job.
“Before sending her the sms I had issued her with a written warning for failing to do her job,” Yenani told the Dispatch.
“I was going to issue her with an official dismissal letter but she refused to fetch it. Maxeke is just angry that I replaced her. I am the councillor and I decide who to dismiss and appoint for BCM community-based jobs.”
Maxeke said the text was received just a few days after she and other residents opened a case of fraud with police on May 29.
The residents claimed Yenani had illegally allowed unauthorised people to move into the 17 RDP houses meant for Mathemba Vuso shack dwellers.
“She is angry that I exposed her and this was her way of getting back at me but I don’t regret it,” Maxeke alleged.
Maxeke said the day after receiving the text she reported it to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration offices in East London.
She denied being issued with a warning.
Maxeke said she had continued cleaning the toilets after receiving the sms and was shocked when she received no payment at the end of June.
The Dispatch has seen Maxeke’s letter of appointment signed by the director of engineering services, Nceba Ncunyana, which states that Maxeke would be paid R2400 every month.
Her contract ends in March 2016.
Maxeke claimed her payment for June had been deposited into her neighbour’s account, who has allegedly been appointed to take over her job.
The neighbour told the Dispatch that she had not yet started work.
When asked who appointed her and why she had already been paid she refused to comment.
Police Lieutenant Nkosiko Mzuku confirmed a case of fraud had been opened against Yenani and said the matter was being investigated.
‘Whistleblower’ booted off job after scam claim
Bukeka Maxeke from Mathemba Vuso informal settlement in NU3 said she was appointed under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to clean public toilets around the metro two years ago – but that she had received an sms sent on June 1 from councillor Pumla Yenani “firing” her from her position.
Maxeke earlier blew the whistle, alleging Yenani had allowed “strangers” to take over 17 RDP houses illegally.
Speaking to the Dispatch yesterday Yenani confirmed sending the text saying: “Please stop cleaning the toilets from today as I have found someone to replace you.”
But Yenani said replacing Maxeke had nothing to do with the fraud allegations and everything to do with Maxeke failing to do her job.
“Before sending her the sms I had issued her with a written warning for failing to do her job,” Yenani told the Dispatch.
“I was going to issue her with an official dismissal letter but she refused to fetch it. Maxeke is just angry that I replaced her. I am the councillor and I decide who to dismiss and appoint for BCM community-based jobs.”
Maxeke said the text was received just a few days after she and other residents opened a case of fraud with police on May 29.
The residents claimed Yenani had illegally allowed unauthorised people to move into the 17 RDP houses meant for Mathemba Vuso shack dwellers.
“She is angry that I exposed her and this was her way of getting back at me but I don’t regret it,” Maxeke alleged.
Maxeke said the day after receiving the text she reported it to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration offices in East London.
She denied being issued with a warning.
Maxeke said she had continued cleaning the toilets after receiving the sms and was shocked when she received no payment at the end of June.
The Dispatch has seen Maxeke’s letter of appointment signed by the director of engineering services, Nceba Ncunyana, which states that Maxeke would be paid R2400 every month.
Her contract ends in March 2016.
Maxeke claimed her payment for June had been deposited into her neighbour’s account, who has allegedly been appointed to take over her job.
The neighbour told the Dispatch that she had not yet started work.
When asked who appointed her and why she had already been paid she refused to comment.
Police Lieutenant Nkosiko Mzuku confirmed a case of fraud had been opened against Yenani and said the matter was being investigated.
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