We call on the responsible authorities to ensure transparency, fairness and accountability in the selection and appointment of Non-Profit Organisations (“NPOs”) under the EPWP/IDT Non-State Sector NPO Programme for the 2026/2027–2028/2029 financial years.

We support the objectives of the Expanded Public Works Programme (“EPWP”) and recognise the vital role that NPOs play in creating work opportunities and supporting communities. However, the selection and appointment of NPOs must be conducted through a process that is transparent, objective, fair and capable of public scrutiny.

WHY THIS MATTERS

The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is intended to create work opportunities and support unemployed and vulnerable people through socially useful activities. Through its Non-State Sector, the Programme works with NPOs that contribute to community development, poverty alleviation, skills development and employment opportunities.

The current NPO procurement process covers the 2026/2027–2028/2029 financial years and involves public resources and opportunities that directly affect communities.

Eligible NPOs should therefore have a fair opportunity to apply, be assessed against the same objective requirements and be able to understand how appointment decisions were reached. The EPWP Non-State Sector procedure manual also identifies publicity of calls for applications, proposal requirements and due diligence, including site visits, as important aspects of the process.

For this reason, the selection and appointment of NPOs must be transparent, fair, impartial and accountable.

WE ARE CALLING FOR ANSWERS

We respectfully request transparency regarding:

1.  Advertisement and access to information: Whether the opportunity was adequately advertised through accessible national, provincial, regional and community communication channels to ensure that eligible NPOs had a fair opportunity to apply.
2. Eligibility requirements: Whether all applicants were assessed against the same published eligibility requirements and whether those requirements were applied consistently.
3. Evaluation criteria and scoring: Whether the functionality criteria, scoring methodology, minimum thresholds and other evaluation requirements were clearly communicated and applied equally to all applicants.
4. Evaluation committee and governance: Whether appropriately constituted and independent evaluation structures were responsible for assessing applications, and whether conflicts of interest were properly declared and managed.
5. Due diligence and verification: Whether site visits, organisational verification, financial assessments and other due diligence processes were conducted consistently and objectively.
6. Selection and appointment decisions: Whether the final selection and appointment decisions were based on documented, objective and verifiable criteria aligned with the published procurement requirements.
7. Communication with unsuccessful applicants: Whether applicants who were not successful will receive appropriate written notification and, where legally permissible, reasons for the outcome and information about available review or complaint mechanisms.
8. Regional and community fairness: Whether the allocation of opportunities takes account of regional needs, poverty, unemployment, service gaps and the capacity of legitimate local NPOs to serve their communities.
9. Prevention of favouritism and undue influence: Whether adequate safeguards are in place to prevent political interference, preferential treatment, conflicts of interest, manipulation or any other conduct that could compromise a fair process.
10. Monitoring of appointed NPOs: Whether appointed organisations will be subject to transparent performance monitoring, financial accountability, reporting requirements and public-interest oversight.

WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR

We call on responsible authorities to:

1. Publish the selection and appointment framework
   Make publicly available the applicable procurement documents, eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria, scoring methodology, minimum thresholds and relevant process guidelines, subject to lawful protection of confidential information.
2. Publish the outcome of the process
   Publish a clear list of appointed NPOs, including the relevant province or region, programme focus, appointment period and approved allocation or budget information where disclosure is legally permissible.
3. Provide a transparent explanation of the evaluation process
   Confirm how applications were assessed, how scores were determined, how due diligence was conducted and how final decisions were approved.
4. Ensure equal treatment of applicants
   Confirm that all eligible NPOs were subjected to the same requirements, assessment standards and verification procedures.
5. Establish an independent review or complaints mechanism
   Provide a clear process through which applicants can raise concerns, request clarification, report irregularities and seek a review where appropriate.
6. Investigate credible allegations of irregularity
   Where evidence or formal complaints indicate possible unfairness, conflicts of interest, political interference or other misconduct, ensure that the matter is investigated by an appropriate independent oversight structure.
7. Protect public resources and community opportunities
   Ensure that appointed NPOs meet governance, financial management, service delivery and reporting requirements, and that EPWP work opportunities reach the intended unemployed and vulnerable beneficiaries.
8. Engage NPOs and civil society
   Convene a transparent stakeholder engagement session or public briefing to explain the process, address concerns and strengthen confidence in the programme.

WHY ARE WE SIGNING

This petition is not about opposing the EPWP or any particular NPO. It is about ensuring that a programme intended to serve communities is administered according to principles of:

• Transparency.
• Fairness.
• Equal opportunity.
• Accountability.
• Impartiality.
• Good governance.
• Responsible use of public resources.
• Community development.

We believe that NPOs deserve a fair and transparent opportunity to participate and communities deserve to know that public employment opportunities are being allocated through a credible and accountable process.

SIGN THIS PETITION

If you support transparency and accountability in the selection and appointment of NPOs under the EPWP/IDT Non-State Sector NPO Programme, sign this petition and help us call for an open, fair and verifiable process.

We call on the responsible authorities to listen, provide answers and ensure that the Programme can withstand legitimate public scrutiny.