Article Final Leg of the EPWP Councillors Workshop
Story and pictures by Vusi Shabalala
Finally, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works’ EPWP Team was on the home stretch with
the Councillor’s Workshop that lasted almost a month. On the 1st of April 2019, Mr Xolani Xulu,
Director for EPWP,led his team duringthe final leg of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP)
Councillors’ workshop which wasconvened at the Lakeside Community Hall in Vryheid, North Coast of
the Province. Presentations by Mrs Nokwanda Dube together with Messrs Mazibuko and Mkhize
served as guidelines towards a fruitful interrogation and deliberations amongst all attendees.
The Zululand District Municipality Mayor, His Worship, Cllr Thulasizwe Buthelezi accompanied by
members of the Executive Council and all other Councillors honoured the invitation and fully
participated during the workshop proceedings. The ‘question-and-answer’ session signalled a
significant understanding that any workshop remains a very demanding job aimedat working in small
or large groups – just as how the entire Councillors of the Zululand District Municipality were
organised. The workshop included programme activities that involved the development of intellectual
understanding of doing things right, abilities and skills in ensuring the appropriate coordination and
management of EPWP within the municipality and sharing of best practices.
Seated (fltr) Mr Xolani Xulu, Public Works Director for EPWP with AbaQulusi Local Municipality Mayor,
Cllr Jeremiah Mbongeni Sibiyaand Zululand District Municipality Mayor, Cllr Thulasizwe Buthelezi
It is noted with understanding that Mayors and Councillors alike, are at the coalface of ‘service
delivery’.A presupposition and common understanding is that the public want an elected member
who deals with their problems and who consults with them and represents their views. Both are key
roles of the elected member at ward level. Therefore, the key role of all elected members is to
represent their wards and the people who live there.
In his address, the AbaQulusi Local Municipality Mayor, His Worship Cllr Jeremiah Mbongeni Sibiya
has been quite articulate and fathomable about the future prospects of EPWP. According to him,
placing EPWP at the centre of the Councillors’ strategic deliberations, their cooperative and teamwork
skills that involve leadership, planning, management and peer support, will be tested and destined to
continue adding significant value to changing peoples’ lives. It is envisaged that such future
engagements will directly and indirectly assist municipalities to navigate challenging times by
increasing the EPWP participants’ ability to respond rapidly in unpredictable work environments and
operations, particularly during critical times that seem to affect the needs of youth, women including
People with Disabilities, taking into account political upheaval and community or individual needs
Councillorslistening attentively during the presentations
Added benefits of the workshopinclude a long-term success to the management of EPWP within
municipalities, optimization of Councilors’ expertise and preparing the next generation of wellrounded leaders. EPWP targets communities that are perceived to be culturally, economically and or
geographically disadvantaged. The programme also brings about social change and improve quality of
life in their local area. It empowers them to identify their assets, needs, opportunities, rights and
responsibilities; plan what they want to achieve and take appropriate action; develop activities and
services to generate aspiration and confidence.
It is worth commending that the KZN Public Works’ EPWP team has been quite instrumental to
collaborate with all role players in order to afford the programme beneficiaries time to taking part in
things that interest them as easily as possible so that the number of work opportunities available
always increase. This approach allows the community to help themselves and remain independent,
maintaining their quality of life while reducing pressure on key services. In conclusion, EPWP will
ultimately assist Public Works to actively engage all role players, especially the beneficiaries, in
making sense of the issues that affect their lives, setting goals for their improvement and invest in
them.