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DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE
EPWP PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE...
Background of the Expanded Public Works Programme
The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is a nationwide government led initiative with the objective of providing work opportunities and income support to poor and unemployed people through the delivery of public and community assets and services, thereby contributing to development.
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) is responsible for the overall co-ordination of the EPWP. The EPWP consists of four (4) sectors and are led by the following Departments:
• Infrastructure Sector led and coordinated by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI)
• Environment and Culture Sector led and coordinated by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).
• Social Sector led and coordinated by the Department of Social Development (DSD); and
• Non-State Sector consisting of two sub-programmes namely; the Community Work Programme (CWP) led and coordinated by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and the Non-Profit Organisations (NPO) Programme led and coordinated by the DPWI.
Towards 20 years of EPWP
The EPWP has been implemented since 2004, with the following key characteristics and successes within each of the respective EPWP Phases:
• EPWP Phase 1 (2004/05 - 2008/09): The Programme created 1 617 566 work opportunities, with a performance of 145% against the 1 million work opportunity target. During this phase, the core focus was increasing the use of labour intensive methods in the construction and maintenance of government infrastructure, supporting public bodies with replication of EPWP Programmes and identifying new areas of government delivery in which unemployed and unskilled workers could be provided with opportunities.
• EPWP Phase 2 (2009/10 - 2013/14): The targets of the Programme were increased four-fold. Targets and accountability across all spheres of Government were introduced and all spheres of government were collectively accountable to create 4.5 million work opportunities. The Programme achieved 4 million work opportunities during this Phase. Furthermore, non-state capacity was mobilised to deliver additional EPWP work opportunities.
• EPWP Phase 3 (2013/14 - 2018/19): was implemented from 2014-2019 and it was aimed at creating 6 million work opportunities. During the said period, the programme created 4.5 million work opportunities against the target of 6 million.
• The EPWP Phase 4 (2019/202023/24) which is currently being implemented is aimed at creating 5 million work opportunities by 31 March 2024. The Programme is targeting the participation of 60% women, 55% youth and 2% persons with disability.
Successes of the EPWP
Some of the successes of the programme since 2004 include the following:
• The EPWP has created more than 14 million work opportunities since the inception of the programme in April 2004 to March 2023. This has contributed towards poverty alleviation. Different research reports and Mid-Term Review reports of the different phases of EPWP show that the income participants earn from EPWP is having a positive impact in terms of poverty alleviation.
• The EPWP is being implemented across the different spheres of government with more than 300 public bodies implementing the programme.
• The EPWP has contributed towards service delivery. Different projects in the different sectors of EPWP have been implemented. This includes; road construction, road maintenance, provision of Home Community Based Care Services, provision of Early Childhood Development Services, Environmental Greening and Clean-up Projects, working on fire projects and removal of alien vegetation projects.
• EPWP interventions related to training and the skilling of project participants is also done. Participants have obtained different skills which include; construction skills such as painting, brick laying and carpentry, Home Community Based Care skills and fire-fighting skills among others. Training is funded through funding obtained through the National Skills Fund (NSF) and through the budgets of projects in different public bodies.
The current phase of the Programme (EPWP Phase IV)
The EPWP has been strengthening its partnerships with the private sector in getting placements for youth that have been trained in artisan programmes to get work experience. This has been achieved through placement and absorption of youth by some contractors on projects implemented by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI).
Some of the youth trained in the mechanical engineering field have been absorbed by Mining companies and Car repair companies as part of the partnership with the private sector. It is the intentional of the EPWP to further expand on the partnerships with the private sector to improve on exit opportunities for some of the participants from the EPWP.
During the Mpumalanga EPWP Summit which was held at Steve Tshwete Local Municipality in Middleburg on 02 November 2023, Deputy Minister Bernice Swarts said that EPWP has in the current financial year 2023/2024 created 610 882 work opportunities, and accumulatively created more than 4.5 million work opportunities since the inception of the fourth phase in the 2019/2020 financial year.
“The EPWP recruits people to do work that benefits their respective communities, and research shows that community members who participate in the Programme spend a substantial amount of their wages in their respective communities, which in turn contributes to the socioeconomic improvement of these very communities. The figures we have highlighted are not just mere numbers. Those figures represent women and men who are participating in the EPWP to carry out vital developmental work in our communities.
“The community members who are working in EPWP contribute to the delivery of beneficial community services such as caring for the elderly and the sickly, looking after children through work they perform at Early Childhood Development facilities in our communities, as well as ensuring that children eat nutritious meals at school through the government’s school nutrition programme.” Said Deputy Minister Swarts.
The Deputy Minister also said with the number of work opportunities reported to date since the start of the EPWP Phase 4, it is evident that EPWP is currently on track to achieve its 5-year target by March 2024.
EPWP participant’s testimony
In 2020, the partnership between the DPWI and the Agricultural Sector Education Training Authority (AgriSETA) in implementing the Artisan Development Programme has seen the recruitment of 400 EPWP participants to be trained in various artisan trades. One of the participants of this programme is 30-year-old Mapule Mocwaledi who is currently being trained as a Diesel Mechanic at Isuzu in Middleburg, Mpumalanga. Her work as a diesel mechanic includes inspecting, repairing, and overhauling any type of diesel engine.
“I was inspired to be an artisan because I enjoy practical work as it allows me to create, manufacture and repair. I would like to have my own company that will specialise in fixing, servicing and any work related to a car,” Mocwaledi said.
EPWP contributing to service delivery…
1. EPWP participants assist in the construction of Welisizwe Rural Bridges
EPWP has in the past years contributed to the socio-economic empowerment of various communities. An example of infrastructure delivered through EPWP is the Welisizwe bridges. Minister Zikalala has in October 2023 announced the construction of over 100 Welisizwe bridges in six provinces, namely Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West.
Welisizwe Bridges Project is a government initiative aimed at addressing infrastructure backlog in rural areas. It allows communities to access health facilities, schools and other public amenities. The project is implemented in partnership with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the Provincial Department of Transport ( DoT).
Welisizwe bridges are constructed using labour intensive methods and this has contributed to the creation of training and work opportunities for the rural and disadvantaged communities. Each bridge site has 7 SANDF members who oversee the projects, 5 artisans and 40 EPWP participants. The skills imparted to communities through this project include welding, ground work and soil retention.
2. EPWP participants repair wheelchairs for the Department of Health
The EPWP participants are also assisting in the repair of wheelchairs for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health. The Wheelchair Repair Project is funded through the EPWP Social Sector Incentive Grant and is implemented in health facilities across the province.
One of the facilities is in the Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital where a total number of 249 wheelchairs and other assistive devices are being repaired and maintained. In the past years, there has been a steady increase in the demand for wheelchair repair services and thus far the Department has identified wheelchair repair and maintenance as an intervention to address this challenge.
The Department of Health has appointed three persons with disabilities into the Programme to serve as wheelchair repair technicians for the period of three years. Their duties include assisting on the day-today repairs and maintenance of the assertive devices namely; wheelchairs, walking sticks, crutches and walking frames.
These participants have aided the Department in ensuring that the lifespan of the wheelchairs is increased and that these assistive devices are always in good condition.
Future of EPWP
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Honourable Sihle Zikalala, when addressing the EPWP Phase 5 Indaba held in October 2023 in Pretoria, Gauteng, outlined the future of EPWP.
“EPWP Phase 5 should be more than just combatting unemployment. It is about rewriting the story of our youth from one of despair to one of hope, from stagnation to growth and from dependency to self-reliance,” said Minister Zikalala.
In addition to the work opportunities created by the EPWP, Minister Zikalala emphasised the need for the provision of meaningful and impactful projects which should be valuable to the development of participants.
The Minister outlined the following key-points for critical consideration towards maximising the impact of the EPWP in various South African communities in the next five years (2024-2029) as follows:
• Improve coordination and effectiveness of structures implementing the Programme;
• Improve the implementation framework from recruitment to the end. Implementation should be bolstered through effective monitoring and accountability.
• Define impactful projects while providing work opportunities and skills, there is a need to contribute towards improving the quality and delivery of services to the people;
• Improve training to provide meaningful skills while preserving the cost benefit;
• Ensure proper exit strategies through enterprise development and linking other participants with permanent employment for the participants to be able to become entrepreneurs and also enter the job market. Well positioned to coordinate and participate in the implementation of the EPWP Phase 5.
In addition to creating assets, the Programme is also focused on providing exit opportunities for the EPWP participants by providing different training opportunities. These opportunities will enable participants to gain knowledge and skill which will improve their chances of entering the formal job market or become entrepreneurs.
“Our core focus should gravitate towards not just creating employment opportunities, but crafting pathways of continuous growth, learning and empowerment. Our goal goes beyond employment generation. It is about nurturing a skilled, self-reliant populace that contributes constructively to our nation’s socio-economic fabric,” said Minister Zikalala.
The Minister said that one of the many strategies that will be used to escalate the EPWP’s national effort will be to re-open the DPWI’s workshops. The revitalisation of the existing workshops will be a cornerstone of empowering and absorbing some of the graduates from the National Youth Service (NYS) from the EPWP. The workshops will be the crucibles of innovation, skills development and practical exposure.
“By integrating NYS graduates into these workshops, we aim to foster a culture of continuous learning and hands-on experience, ensuring our youth are not just employable but are drivers of innovation and change.” said Minister Zikalala.
EPWP will be massified to create more opportunities while attempting to solve the country’s key challenges such as:
• Road Maintenance (pothole patching, road paving)
• Cleaning of neighbourhoods and waste management
• Energy (retrofitting of government buildings and solar installations)
• Fixing of lifts and plumbing
The Minister further said that EPWP will be characterised by the Khawuleza Model, whereby service delivery is accelerated and meaningful interventions are unleashed to improve the living conditions of various communities.
For more information on EPWP visit www.epwp.gov.za
