Pretoria – Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is a driver of change and a potent force for social inclusion.
“It is a valued intervention aimed at creating work in an environment of chronic joblessness,” he said.
Speaking at the 5th Expanded Public Works Programme Summit in Pretoria on Tuesday, Deputy President Ramaphosa said the programme provides opportunities to young people, women and the rural poor, who bear the brunt of low economic growth and unemployment.
“This programme seeks to provide modest income to struggling and impoverished households in the short to medium term,” he said.
Deputy Ramaphosa said the EPWP is about empowering residents in villages, informal settlements and townships with skills they can use beyond the life of a project.
“It recognises that participants are valued members of communities, who contribute to development and social cohesion. It recognises that inclusive economic growth and democratic participation are best advanced through strong partnerships between government, development organisations and citizens.”
The Deputy President, however, warned that EPWP is not about enriching people but is about helping communities.
Deputy President Ramaphosa said through the mobilisation of public resources, EPWP participants contribute to the delivery of community services and the provision of public assets.
“We need to encourage greater collaboration between individuals, co-operatives, small businesses and Public Works to ensure that entrepreneurs succeed and thrive within the programme.
“We are making important progress in developing the capacity of the state to monitor and evaluate the provision of services. We must also make sure that monitoring and evaluation becomes a cornerstone of the EPWP. We must institutionalise the planning function and enhance synergies across all spheres of government and state owned enterprises.”
He said public employment programmes cannot be separated from the broader strategies for economic growth and social development.
“We need to do more to use public employment programmes to support and enhance the work being done in other areas to create jobs and reduce poverty. We need to better integrate the activities of public employment programmes with our national skills development strategy, with our food security and nutrition programmes, with the work we are doing with business and labour leaders to establish a mass internship programme,” Deputy President Ramaphosa said.
Public Works Deputy Minister Jeremy Cronin said as EPWP phase three is almost halfway, they are confident that they will reach the six million job opportunity target.
EPWP changing lives
EPWP participant Nomasonto Nzimande from Mpumalanga told SAnews that since she started participating in the programme, her life has changed for the better.
“I no longer depend on other people for handouts. I can take care of my two kids,” she said.
Echoing the same sentiment, Joseph Masingita from Limpopo said for him EPWP is not only about work, but it is also about learning new skills that he will use once the programme is complete.
“I don’t have to depend on other people to survive. I am working now, thanks to EPWP.”
President Jacob Zuma launched the third phase of the EPWP in Keiskammahoek in the Eastern Cape.
EPWP projects employ workers on a temporary or on-going basis either by government, contractors or other non-governmental organisations under the Ministerial Conditions of Employment for the EPWP or learnership employment conditions.
The National Department of Public Works is the coordinating department of EPWP, which is implemented by all spheres of government and across all EPWP sectors, namely infrastructure, non-State, environment & culture and social sectors.
The 5th Expanded Public Works Programme Summit is attended by, among others, mayors, EPWP participants and government officials from various government departments. – SAnews.gov.za
