They said that government must consider that Ipelegeng beneficiaries are not insured yet they are exposed to danger while on duty. Ipelegeng wages have been increased from P400 to P480 for workers and P534 to P560 for supervisors. The workshop heard that people living in Botshabelo and Ikageleng wait for upto four months to be hired in the programme. Some participants said most of Ipelegeng workers are women weighed with the responsibility of looking after children with the paltry wages they get."The little money means we cannot afford to take our children to day care centres while we proceed to our workplaces. We acknowledge that parents should not bring their children to work. At least government should consider engaging beneficiaries on two-month rotational basis, not only one month," said one beneficiary.
Some urged authorities to intensify morning inspections because Ipelegeng workers have a tendency of sleeping on mats or cardboard boxes when they are on duty. "This has the effect of delaying completion of projects. Some of them even start reclining before the work of the day starts," said one participant. They called on government to consider making the Ipelegeng programme a permanent and fully-fledged department. Some felt that Ipelegeng workers must be paid when they are absent attending funerals of immediate family members. The programme coordinator, Lekgotla Sebifelo said he hopes government will consider the issue of mobile toilets and water supply for Ipelegeng workers. He told the workers not to complain about low pay because Ipelegeng is not an employment but a programme by government to reduce the impact of poverty. "If it becomes employment, then skills will be required for people to be recruited," he explained.
