opportunities for EPWP beneficiaries says MEC Yawa
Tuesday, 20 February 2007
North West Public Works MEC Howard Yawa says that his department has set in
motion a process to recruit 500 youth for participation in the National Youth
Service through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). He was addressing
the EPWP Certification Award Function for the central region held at the
Barolong Boo-Ratshidi Community Hall in Mafikeng on Tuesday.
The recruitment process is in response to the call by President Thabo Mbeki
for government departments to be involved in the National Youth Service
Volunteer Programme, and announcement by Premier Edna Molewa in her State of
the Province Address as to the department's target.
MEC Yawa congratulated the 170 EPWP graduates who received accredited
certificates for their tireless commitment to the EPWP and for acquiring skills
in bricklaying, plastering, carpentry, electrical construction, plumbing,
welding, tiling, paving and landscaping .He stressed the commitment of the
Department of Public Works to the skills revolution and its determination to
take the people's contract to a level where intergovernmental and public
private partnerships results in tangible deliverables to the people.
Yawa said that his department, as the co-ordinating department for the
programme, was working with other government departments and municipalities to
develop an exit strategy for beneficiaries. This he said would ensure their
participation beyond training and project implementation so as to gain
experience as co-operatives in order to access further opportunities for
participation in the economy. He called on municipalities and the private
sector to offer exit opportunities for beneficiaries and to tap into them as a
skilled workforce as projects they have delivered attest to their capacity to
deliver quality infrastructure.
"As a department we are committed to the skills revolution and will
indisputably fulfil the Premier's pronouncement of our involvement in the
National Youth Service as our contribution to the realisation of government's
objective to eradicate poverty through job creation and halve unemployment by
2014," concluded MEC Yawa.
The joyous event was graced by among others, the Executive Mayor for the
Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, the Mayor of Ramotshiri Moiloa Local
Municipality, the Speaker of Ditsobotla Local Municipality, Kgosi Moiloa of
Bahurutshe Ba Ga Moiloa Traditional Council, Local government councillors,
representatives of the business sector, senior government officials and
training providers.
For further information contact:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 018-387 2447
Cell: 083 629 1987
Issued by: Department of Public Works, North West Provincial
Government
20 February 2007
