EPWP continues to provide socioeconomic relief through creation of work opportunities for the poor and unemployed South Africans

The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is continuing to offer socio-economic relief to the poor, unskilled and unemployment South Africans by providing them with work opportunities and income relief thus improving their lives for the better.

The EPWP is aimed at providing work and training opportunities to women, youth and people with disabilities. The EPWP participants take part in various projects implemented by all spheres of government including the State Owned Entities, Non Profit Organisations and Community Based Organisations.

Ms. Thapelo Mokhwane is an EPWP participant from Kagisano Molopo Local Municipality in the North West. She participated in the EPWP Environment and Culture waste project in 2021. Through the income that she receives from the EPWP, Mokhwane managed to enroll for a security course which she completed successfully and was awarded a Grade C security certificate. Currently she is studying towards a certificate in education and looking forward to working at an Early Childhood Development centre and earn a better life after exiting the Programme.

In addition to that, Mr. Edwin Mashalane is one of many participants of the EPWP Artisan Development Programme which is currently underway. Mashalane is based in Mpumalanga for the theoretical and practical training in Diesel Mechanic artisan trade. He is currently placed at Toyota Middleburg as a diesel mechanic trainee. He is happy with the skills and knowledge that he is acquiring from the programme.

Speaking about the training opportunities in the EPWP, The Director: Beneficiary Training in the EPWP, Ms Cinderella Makunike indicated that the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) through its National Skills Fund (NSF) provided funding to the EPWP to train a total of 8 300 EPWP participants on the following:

• Skills Programmes (7 000)

• Learnerships (450)

• Artisan Development (400)

• Capacity Building (450)

To date, through a partnership with Agriculture Sector Education Training Authority (AgriSETA), 362 EPWP participants are in training for Artisan Development on 18 different trades throughout the country as follows:

• Boilermaker

• Chef

• Diesel Mechanic

• Automotive Mechanic

• Electrician

• Hairdresser

• Fitter and Turner

• Refrigeration Mechanic

• Mechanical Fitter

• Rigger

• Millwright

• Bricklayer

• Plumber

• Instrumentation

• Welder

• Carpentry

• Lift Mechanic

• Fitter

EPWP participants throughout the country have received training on Skills Programmes such as Construction processes, plant production, early childhood development, security practices and many more.

In addition, “there are 25 Health promotion officers participating in the EPWP learnership in the Free State. They are responsible for community work, assisting in clinics as caregivers, providing care for children and giving non-medical health care support in various health centres in the Free State”. said Ms Makunike.

Source: Government of South Africa