The government Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) has had an impact in the province as it has created about 55 830 work opportunities in the last financial year.
The milestone was celebrated by the Provincial Executive Council in its two week meeting held in Mahikeng this week. According to the quarter report on EPWP of the 2011/12 financial year tabled by the Executive Council Cluster on Economic and Infrastructure Development, over R6.2 billion was spent across departments on 1 554 projects that were put into operation. The provincial sphere of government created 27 280, 17 855 by the national sphere and 10 686 by the municipal sphere of government.
Premier Thandi Modise urged different departments to strengthen their efforts in order to create more jobs in the current financial year. “The objectives of using labour intensive methods in all potential government funded service delivery projects is to create more work opportunities and stimulate the entrepreneurial spirit of the participants,” she said.
The ecstatic Modise added that people should not be selfish and share the benefits of this initiative because they were aiming to empower different people so that everyone could have equal opportunities.
“Obviously this means that those who have acquired skills through training provided should make way for new beneficiaries. Mentorship should support our exit strategies to ensure that those who have completed their learnership programmes stand on their own,” added Modise.
“The infrastructure sector of the EPWP involves the use of labour intensive construction methods to deliver services in all government funded infrastructure projects for construction of rural and low volume roads, municipal pipelines, sidewalks and storm water drains,” MEC for public works, roads and transport, Raymond Elisha said.
Enquiries:
Lebo Mokgethi
Tel: 018 387 1252
E-mail:amotsurupe@nwpg.gov.za
