Media briefing session on the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) progress and achievements by Mr Stanley Henderson: EPWP Deputy Director-General

Chief Directors
Honourable guests
Members of the media
Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning,

You are all welcome to this media briefing session, and I am humbled by your presence here today.

Since its inception in 2004, the EPWP’s mandate is to alleviate poverty and unemployment through the provision of training and work opportunities to the poor and unemployed South Africans.  It is implemented by all three spheres of government, namely: National, Provincial and Local government across its four sectors, namely: Infrastructure, Non State, Environment & culture and Social sectors.

The second phase of the EPWP which was launched in 2009, covers the period 2009/10 until March 2014 and aims to create 4.5 million work opportunities to the unemployed South Africans, thereby contributing significantly to the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving unemployment by 2014.

The programme achieves its objectives and targets through the delivery of public and community services. Public bodies from the national, provincial and local government spheres of government collaboratively work with the National Department of Public Works, as the lead and coordinating department of the Programme to accomplish these targets through their existing budgets and mandates.

It is my pleasure to announce that since the implementation of EPWP phase 2 in 2009, the programme has made a significant impact within our South African communities through the different EPWP programmes in the upliftment of the socio-economic conditions of the unemployed.  

Achievement of the programme

• By the end of the 2012/2013 financial year, more than three million work opportunities had been created since the start of the second phase. The target for this phase is 4.5 million. This achievement positions the programme as one of the key catalysts in government’s jobs creation drive.
• The incentive grant model was revised to give rural municipalities’ easier access to grants in order to increase labour intensive work opportunities through the EPWP projects. The revised model has been implemented since the 2012/13 financial year.
• The programme easily reached its target for women and youth participating in the programme, with 60% of the participants being women and 50% being youth, compared to the targets of 55% women and 40% youth.
• More municipalities are implementing EPWP: to date 277 out of 278 municipalities have signed protocol agreements, committing them to achieve their EPWP targets.

Work opportunities and FTE progress to date against 5 year targets

The National Youth Service

Meanwhile, the National Youth Service Programme (NYS) has, since its launch in 2007, mandated to provide employment and skills development to the unemployed youth in South Africa. Amongst others, the NYS is aimed at:

• Creating work and training opportunities for the unemployed youth while addressing the shortage of artisan skills within built environment.
• Ensuring that youth develop skills, understanding and aspirations for working within the built environment.

NYS achievements

• A total of 1 526 beneficiaries are currently participating in the programme at the National Department and 4 403 are participating in the provincial departments.
• A total of 92 apprentices are participating in the department`s NYS Artisan Development Programme which is implemented jointly with the Northern Cape province.
• The apprentices have completed their theoretical training and are currently placed in various private companies to obtain practical training experience in the various construction and related skills trades.

Way forward beyond the EPWP phase 2

EPWP branch is currently in the processes of finalising a business plan for phase 3. The proposal will be submitted to Cabinet Lekgotla for endorsement in July 2013.