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The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Eastern Cape has raised alarm over the ongoing non-payment of more than 3,000 interns across the province. The party issued a strongly worded statement on 18 November 2025, accusing government departments of negligence and failing to honour basic obligations. The crisis has left many families in distress as interns continue to wait for their stipends.
What Happened
According to the EFF, thousands of interns have gone unpaid for months, despite relying on these stipends to buy food, pay rent, travel to work, and support their households. The party says the delays have pushed young people into debt, poverty, and emotional stress.
“These are not faceless numbers. These are mothers, fathers, young people, caregivers who genuinely depend on these payments,” the statement reads. The EFF argues that many interns made financial commitments based on promises from government departments, only to be “abandoned by a state that continues to waste money on non-essential projects.”
The party further warns that withholding stipends exposes interns to exploitation and undermines youth-development goals.
Official Response
The EFF has begun engaging relevant provincial departments to demand immediate action on outstanding payments.
“We will continue to raise this matter publicly and directly with those in positions of authority,” the leadership said.
The party stated it is assisting affected interns to escalate cases and ensure their concerns are not ignored.
“A government that claims to care about youth development cannot continue to treat interns like disposable labour,” the EFF added.
Community Impact
The delayed payments have hit vulnerable families the hardest, especially those already struggling with unemployment and rising living costs. The EFF says the situation threatens thousands of livelihoods and erodes trust in public institutions.
