President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to officiate over the celebration of 20 years of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in the Eastern Cape, on Wednesday next week.

The President will also launch Phase V of the programme.

‘The EPWP is a nationwide government programme to create work opportunities and income support to poor and unemployed people through the delivery of public and community assets and services, thereby contributing towards development.

‘The programme is one of government’s flagship Public Employment Programmes and has been implemented for the past 20 years since April 2004,’ the Presidency said in a statement.

The programme is implemented in the following sectors:

Infrastructure sector and the non-state sector coordinated by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure

Social sector coordinated by the Department of Social Development

Environment and culture sector coordinated by Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

According to the Presidency, since the
EPWP’s inception, some 14 million working opportunities have been created through ‘more than 300 public bodies and non-profit organisations (NPO) implementing the EPWP’.

‘The work opportunities were created in sectors such as road construction, road maintenance, construction of schools and clinics, provision of early childhood development services, environmental greening and clean-up projects, fire projects and removal of alien vegetation projects.

‘These also include training and skilling in construction skills in painting, brick laying, carpentry; home community care skills and firefighting.

‘The launch of the Phase V implemented from 01 April 2024 to 31 March 2029 will be used to unveil millions of more work opportunities to benefit women, youth and poor households for inclusive growth, sustainable development, and community empowerment in the country,’ the Presidency said.

Source: South African Government News Agency