The DA has compiled a list of “jobs for sex” victims, most of whom, according to provincial chair Georgina Faldtman, are in the provincial Public Works Department.
Faldtman declined to release any information about the claims, not even the number of complainants.
Office of the premier spokesperson Sonwabo Mbananga said they had not received any complaints of this nature.
Public Works spokesperson Vuyokazi Mbanjwa said no complaints had been received by the department.
“The department has developed EPWP recruitment guidelines to be implemented by all public bodies so as to have a uniform and systematic way of recruiting EPWP workers."
Faldtman said they had first been alerted to the issue at the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro where some EPWP workers registered complaints.
The party decided to go on a fact-finding mission across government departments and municipalities.
She said Public Works, through its EPWP, was one of the worst culprits.
“We have been hearing a lot of stories of our children; when they want jobs at Public Works they first must sleep with the men in positions of authority,” she said.
The DA said it had a tough job ahead in getting the women to testify against the perpetrators as many feared losing their jobs.
During her visit to East London, Faldtman met with women workers at Reeston, encouraging them to speak up. She said perpetrators often targeted women in female-headed households as they are the breadwinners.
“We are sick and tired. We say enough is enough. We are here to deal with these perpetrators that want sexual activities from poor women. EPWP jobs are for everyone.
“We are not going to allow people to use their powers to gain sexual acts from our mothers and sisters,” she said.
Faldtman said while in Komani on a campaign visit last week, several women came to her asking for help.
The frustration was the women were terrified to face the culprits.
“I’ve been trying to get somebody who is bold enough to speak out.
“If we can get somebody who can testify and speak out and say ‘It’s me’ and give us names so that we can bring these people to book.”
In 2014, several Cogta officials were suspended after allegations surfaced of jobs for sex and jobs for pals.
In 2015 allegations of jobs for sex emerged at the department of education where individuals were offered principal positions by Sadtu...