One of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) participants, Mr Sello Desire Macheke has made a significant mark towards building his livelihood when he exited the EPWP into a formal employment at Saudi Arabia. Mr Macheke was bid farewell by the Rustenburg Local Municipality (RLM) in North West where he was a fire fighter participant and reservist since December 2021.
Mr Macheke’s appointment at Saudi Arabia was welcomed by the EPWP Branch in the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) and the RLM. In her message to the exiting EPWP participant, MMC for public safety in the RLM municipality, Cllr Mputle sent her well wishes to Mr Macheke in his undertaking of the new job. Cllr Mputle indicated that firefighters face successes and challenges as a team, hence “his success is our success, you have also made a contribution to his achievement, collectively you faced challenges and you managed to overcome them”. Cllr Mputle reminded Mr Macheke that he is not only going to Saudi Arabia for himself but to represent RLM Fire-fighters and South Africa. “Go there and fly the South African flag high!” she said.
For the duration of his period in the EPWP as a firefighter participant, Mr Macheke acquired knowledge and skills which provided him with competencies to apply for job opportunities locally and internationally. The EPWP Programme Manager in North West, Ms Xoliswa Letsapa, said that Mr Macheke’s achievement in securing a formal employment internationally is an indication that the Programme plays a significant role in providing the participants with relevant training for future employment.
Mr Macheke said he was thankful to have been given an EPWP opportunity in RLM. “I am honored to have been part of the journey. All in all I'm still yours to shine with I will honour you all by showing off my given skills and by keeping the South African flag as high as possible”, he said.
The RLM Fire & Emergency Reservist programme is an EPWP initiative and its focus is to create work opportunities and providing skills training. The programme is spearheaded by the municipality’s Public Safety Directorate and its objective is to assist the municipality to decrease fire incidents so as to ensure that communities are safer. A total of 20 EPWP participants were recruited to the department to supplement the permanent staff members of the fire department in the municipality and the recruitment criteria for this programme was based on the physical fitness, matric certificate, Driver’s licence, Fire Fighter I and II Certificate or equivalent.
The Chief Fire Officer at the municipality, Mr Ramothwala congratulated Mr Macheke and encouraged the firefighters to never get stuck in one place but to study further and work hard in order to pursue brighter future. “The achievement that we are witnessing today, tells us that you can do it, you must have ambitions. We are encouraging you to aim high and we appreciate your discipline, commitment and saving lives,” Ramothwala said.
While in the Programme, the participants are required to undergo a relevant training which increases the participants’ chances of employability.
The activities of this project include:
- Responding to all emergencies
- Testing of all Emergency Appliances/Equipment in accordance with standard procedures and the results recorded
- Maintaining and testing fire appliances and equipment
- Pre-fire Planning Inspections
- Performing control room duties:
- PTE Endurance which is a monthly requirement to ensure fitness
- Drilling exercise – inspect readiness on fire extinguishing:
- Morning parade: full uniformed, emergency readiness, vehicle inventory, equipment checks, surrounding cleanliness.
Media enquiries:
Kgomotso Mathuloe
Cell: 082 957 3667
Lesego Moretlwe
Cell: 082 957 3677
