Durban - A total of 25 138 work opportunities have been created in KwaZulu-Natal through the Expanded Public Works Program from April to September this year.
According to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works, the work opportunities created in the province, contributed more than 70 percent of the 34 000 work opportunities created in the country during the same period.
One of the initiatives that led to work opportunities is the KZN Integrated Greening Program.
The community-based initiative provides employment for 1 395 people who are tasked with planting one million trees, collecting and recycling 75 000 tons of waste, restoring 1000 hectares of forest and conserving 25 000 hectares of communal land.
Community members grow trees and collect recyclable waste in exchange for food, clothes, bicycles, water tanks, energy devices, building materials and educational support.
To date, 64 000 trees have been planted with 30 000 in uMgungundlovu and 34 000 within the Zululand District Municipality.
The department reported that 238 602kg of waste has been collected and recycled by "waste-preneurs" in the uMgungundlovu District Municipality and this has an associated barter value of R93 556.
Thus far 169 148 trees have been propagated across the province and 23 800 hectares have been secured in terms of the protected Area Management Act. An amount of R1.9 million has been spent on stipends between April and September this year.
The department has received an incentive grant of R659 400 for creating jobs within its five departmental projects. This grant was used for the increasing input in a poverty alleviation programme called Izandla Ziyagezana and the erection of the HIV and Aids Awareness Campaign signboards.
The work is being done by community members hoping to improve their lives by gaining skills while also restoring their living environment.
Included in the greening programme are 1027 women, 590 youths and six people with disabilities.
The program is the brainchild of the KZN Premier Zweli Mkhize, the Public Works Department, various provincial departments, Sukuma Sakhe (Stand up and Build), the Wildlands Trust and the private sector.
