On Monday 16 November 2020, the weather was moderate and welcoming as guests and other invitees were filled with enthusiasm and excitement when the 1st session of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Focus Week got underway. The event was held at the KwaDukuza Local Municipality’s Auditorium of the iLembe District. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works’ EPWP component prepares a pathway to progressive change.
The EPWP offers a variety of programme services at its Head Office, Regional and District offices including municipalities to support key stakeholders and beneficiaries’ aspirations. It successfully establishes structured workshops in partnerships with municipalities to provide information, advice and guidance; support the development of key skills and inspire beneficiaries to achieve their potential whilst alleviating poverty stricken households.
Monday’s session was officially graced by Mr. Dlamini, the Chief Director for EPWP, accompanied by Mr. Khumalo, the District Municipal Manager. Amongst other guests who honoured the invitation and positively participated were Messrs. Sduduzo Simelane from National Public Works’ EPWP component; Vusi Mkhize, EPWP Director from KZN COGTA and Thabani Mazibuko from the Regional Public Works’ office, who served as Programme Director on the day. In acknowledgement of delegates in attendance were representatives from respective municipalities within the iLembe District (KwaDukuza, KwaMaphumulo, Mandeni and Ndwedwe). Other senior members who represented the KZN Public Works were Mesdames Dube - Director for EPWP Provincial Coordination, Mncube - Director for Youth, Women and Persons with Disability including Khumalo - Director for EPWP Internal.
Mr. Dlamini was very articulate in his opening statement and as he elucidated the purpose of the session. “We have to be solution driven and work as a team,” he said wholeheartedly. He further expressed the greatest of concerns on being prudent when working as a collective. One has to understand the rationale – EPWP is quite a major programme with huge budget and municipalities are direct implementing bodies. The demand to ‘good governance’ cannot be compromised. However, there is a profound difference in ways and attitudes of doing things by municipalities, whilst we witness aspirations for the future of EPWP beneficiaries. In addition, there has been notable change of how work gets done with the COVID-19 pandemic in our midst with labour sector - employees and EPWP beneficiaries alike having returned to work.
“There is a need to look into an exit strategy that will ensure a beneficiary does not stay subjected to poverty once he or she is out of the programme. It is crucial that sustainability to a person’s well-being gets taken care of when the programme period ends,” he emphasised in determination. Such remarks normally bring and raise hope to the hopeless and confidence to the less inspired. EPWP remains an extraordinary essence of changing a persons’ life, especially the poor of the poorest. It is therefore admirable that EPWP beneficiaries normally accept the programme, hereafter a life gets embraced by various individual developmental stages and that is an ultimate change in life.
