The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is a government initiative designed to create job opportunities, sustainable livelihoods and skills development for poor and unemployed people. The primary focus is on labour intensive methods in construction and infrastructure related programmes. EPWP was launched in 2004.
It is a nationwide programme covering all spheres of government and state-owned enterprises. The Programme provides an important avenue for labour absorption and income transfers to poor households in the short to medium-term. It is also a deliberate attempt by the public sector bodies to use expenditure on goods and services to create work opportunities for the unemployed.
EPWP projects employ workers on a temporary or on-going basis either by government, by contractors, or by other non-governmental organisations under the Ministerial Conditions of Employment for the EPWP or learnership employment conditions. The programme pays special attention to women, youth and the people with disabilities.
The main objective is to reduce unemployment through increasing economic growth spurred by improved skills levels through education and training and improving the enabling environment for the economy to flourish.
EPWP has its origins in Growth and Development Summit (GDS) of 2003. At the Summit, four themes were adopted, one of which was ‘More jobs, better jobs, decent work for all’. The GDS agreed that public works programmes ‘can provide poverty and income relief through temporary work for the unemployed to carry out socially useful activities’.
EPWP seeks to give expression to outcome 4 of the National Development Plan (NDP) viz. “Strategic and regulation of the construction and property sectors to promote economic empowerment and skills development.” It is a key intervention in advancing the radical socio-economic transformation agenda articulated by the ANC-led government.
It contributes to Governments Policy Priorities in terms of decent work & sustainable livelihoods, education, health; rural development; food security and land reform and the fight against crime & corruption.
The EPWP creates work opportunities in four sectors, namely, Infrastructure, Non-State, Environment & Culture and Social, through.
- increasing the labour intensity of government-funded infrastructure projects under the Infrastructure sector,
- creating work opportunities through the Non-Profit Organisation Programme (NPO) and Community Work Programme (CWP) under the Non-State sector, and
- creating work opportunities in public environment and culture programmes under the Environment and Culture sector
- creating work opportunities in public social programmes under the Social sector
Despite numerous efforts undertaken by government, unemployment in South Africa has remained stubbornly high. The on-going global financial crisis and economic downturn has made this even worse and has increased the number of unemployed in South Africa even further. This has increased the need for the EPWP even further as it provides a unique policy instrument for government to create work opportunities and alleviate unemployment.
EPWP Coordination Processes
The official handover/ transfer of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport in March 2015 heralded a new era for the establishment of EPWP Coordination in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal. As of April 2015, the Provincial Executive Council mandated the Department to be fully effective in EPWP planning processes and the implementation of its strategies.
As of the said period, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works was tasked with the overall responsibility for coordination and implementation of EPWP for further creation of decent employment opportunities through inclusive economic growth.
This mandate also gave the Department of Public Works the responsibility to monitor and report on EPWP performance by all public bodies as well as its (KZN Public Works) contribution and performance on EPWP in the Province.
The EPWP Provincial Coordinating Department (KZN Public Works) is therefore responsible to:
- Reporting on EPWP at strategic Government Platforms;
- Providing technical support to all public bodies;
- Establishing institutional arrangements and Information Sharing Platforms;
- Strategizing in stakeholder engagement for planning and implementation purposes;
- Promoting and advancing advocacy of EPWP throughout the province, and
- Implementing provincial planning and coordination of EPWP.
The Expanded Public Works Programme is a government programme aimed at the alleviation of poverty and unemployment. The programme ensures the full engagement on Labour Intensive Methods of Construction (LIC) to contractors for skills development. The EPWP focuses at reducing unemployment by increasing economic growth by means of improving skills levels through education and training and improving the enabling environment for the industry to flourish
DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES EXPANDED PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME (EPWP)
CHIEF DIRECTORATE EPWP
Purpose: To render the Expanded Public Works Programme
Functions:
- Manage and coordinate the Provincial Expanded Public Works Programme
- Manage the development of Contractors and job creation opportunities
Chief Director EPWP
Mr D.B. Dlamini
Tel: 033 355 5266
Cell: 067 415 1515
e-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
PA to the Chief Director EPWP
Ms L.M. Tshabalala
Tel: 033 355 5401
Cell number: 067 415 1515
e-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
DIRECTORATE EPWP PROVINCIAL COORDINATION
Purpose:To manage and coordinate provincial Public Works Expanded Programme
Services:
- Manage and facilitate Provincial coordination
- Manage and coordinate municipal monitoring and evaluation
Director: EPWP Provincial Coordination
Ms N Dube
Tel: 033 355 3768
Cell: 082 610 3029
e-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
PA to the Director EPWP Provincial Coordination
Post Vacant
Tel:
Fax number:
Cell number:
e-mail address:
DIRECTORATE EPWP INTERNAL
Purpose: To manage the development of Contractors and job creation opportunities
Services:
- Manage the development of emerging contractors and consultants
- Manage and promote sustainable community works programme
- Manage and monitor the implementation of Labour Intensive methods
- Manage and facilitate training of EPWP beneficiaries
- Manage and monitor the NYS programme
Director: EPWP Internal
Mrs C.N. Khumalo
Tel: 033 355 3710
Cell: 067 412 2211
e-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Acting PA to the Director EPWP Internal
Ms S Zuma
Telephone number: 033 260 3710
Cell number: 067 412 2211
e-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
DIRECTORATE YOUTH, WOMEN & PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Purpose:
To render advocacy of transformation in departmental programmes with a focus to designated groups that is youth, women, people with disabilities and military veterans.
Services:
- To manage and co-ordinate the development of Eyesizwe Contractor Development Programme with emphasise on designated groups such as Youth, Women, People with Disabilities and Military Veterans
- To advocate for inclusion of designated groups in Departmental Programmes including Human Resource Developments, Property Management, Infrastructure and Expanded Public Works Programme
- To ensure compliance by the department on mandatory issues as per directive from the following statutory bodies: DPSA, Legislature and OTP
- Implementation of Incubation Trainings for the designated groups on different vocational skills under built environment.
- Reporting in different statutory bodies on issues of Radical Economic Transformation pursued by the Department
Director: Youth Women & People with Disabilities
Ms D Mncube
Tel: 033 355 5603
Cell: 066 298 0434
e-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
PA to the Director Youth Women & People with Disabilities
Ms S Mzizi
Telephone number: 033 260 3781
Cell number: 072 414 8449
e-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
EXPANDED PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME (EPWP) PRACTITIONERS AT REGIONS
ETHEKWINI REGION
EPWP & Special Projects
Main Functions:
- Help unemployed people (especially youth, women and people living with disabilities) through skills programmes and work experience.
- Ensure that unemployed people receive an allowance for any work they have completed as part of the EPWP.
- Enhance EPWP participants’ chances of finding sustainable jobs or starting their own businesses through making sure that they receive training during their period on the construction site
- Manage the National Youth Service (NYS) Programme in the Region which is a programme aimed to provide long-term and effective ways of reconstructing South African society by developing the abilities of young people through service and learning
- Coordinate regional programs targeted at empowerment & development of local emerging contractors that are registered on Departmental Eyesizwe Contractor Development Program (ECDP) database.
Deputy Director: EPWP & Special Projects
Ms N Lembethe
Tel: 031 203 2388
Fax: 031 203 2296
Cell: 072 457 9139
E-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
MIDLANDS REGION
EPWP & Special Projects
Main Functions:
- Help unemployed people (especially youth, women and people living with disabilities) through skills programmes and work experience.
- Ensure that unemployed people receive an allowance for any work they have completed as part of the EPWP.
- Enhance EPWP participants’ chances of finding sustainable jobs or starting their own businesses through making sure that they receive training during their period on the construction site
- Manage the National Youth Service (NYS) Programme in the Region which is a programme aimed to provide long-term and effective ways of reconstructing South African society by developing the abilities of young people through service and learning
- Coordinate regional programs targeted at empowerment & development of local emerging contractors that are registered on Departmental Eyesizwe Contractor Development Program (ECDP) database.
Assistant Director: EPWP & Special Projects
Ms J.T. Khuzwayo
Tel: 036 638 8268
Fax: 036 6388099
Cell: 081 016 6743
E-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
NORTH COAST REGION
EPWP & Special Projects
Main Functions:
- Help unemployed people (especially youth, women and people living with disabilities) through skills programmes and work experience.
- Ensure that unemployed people receive an allowance for any work they have completed as part of the EPWP.
- Enhance EPWP participants’ chances of finding sustainable jobs or starting their own businesses through making sure that they receive training during their period on the construction site
- Manage the National Youth Service (NYS) Programme in the Region which is a programme aimed to provide long-term and effective ways of reconstructing South African society by developing the abilities of young people through service and learning
- Coordinate regional programs targeted at empowerment & development of local emerging contractors that are registered on Departmental Eyesizwe Contractor Development Program (ECDP) database.
Deputy Director: EPWP & Special Projects
Mr M.M. Ngubane
Tel: 035 874 3856
Fax: 035 874 2519
Cell: 072 642 5242
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
SOUTHERN REGION
EPWP & Special Projects
Main Functions:
- Help unemployed people (especially youth, women and people living with disabilities) through skills programmes and work experience.
- Ensure that unemployed people receive an allowance for any work they have completed as part of the EPWP.
- Enhance EPWP participants’ chances of finding sustainable jobs or starting their own businesses through making sure that they receive training during their period on the construction site
- Manage the National Youth Service (NYS) Programme in the Region which is a programme aimed to provide long-term and effective ways of reconstructing South African society by developing the abilities of young people through service and learning
- Coordinate regional programs targeted at empowerment & development of local emerging contractors that are registered on Departmental Eyesizwe Contractor Development Program (ECDP) database.
Assistant Director: EPWP & Special Projects
Mr S Msomi
Tel: 033 897 7167
Fax: 086 263 7394
Cell: 060 961 8211
E-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Downloads: