Since its creation in 2004, the government’s extended public works programme (EPWP) has created more than 14 million work opportunities for South Africans who are unable to find work.
The EPWP has played a key role in transforming the lives of many young South Africans since the dawn of democracy.
20th anniversary of the EPWP
This is the view of President Cyril Ramaphosa. He was speaking on Wednesday during the official 20th anniversary of the EPWP programme. The commemorations took place at Buffalo City Stadium in East London, Eastern Cape.
However, an economist slammed the EPWP programme, saying Ramaphosa was punting it to woo voters.
Said Ramaphosa: “For the past 20 years, the Expanded Public Works Programme has transformed the lives of millions of young South Africans born into democracy. In 2004, the EPWP was officially launched in Limpopo to create work opportunities for South Africans. Those who were unable to find employment in the formal economy.
“Since then, the programme has created more than 14 million work opportunities across the EPWP sectors. With more than 300 public bodies across all spheres of government and non-profit organisations as implementing agents.”
Ramaphosa said the government will deliver 5 million more jobs in the next five years of the EPWP programme.
Five million more jobs in the next five years
“Today, government signs a pledge to work together to achieve these improvements and to deliver 5 million work opportunities in the next five years. We call on social partners and the private sector to work with our government during Phase Five. To lend a hand in creating jobs and work opportunities. [This] for South Africa’s youth, women and persons with disabilities.
“Working together through public and social employment programmes. Also by providing support for small enterprises and cooperatives, we can create more jobs. This can be done at a much faster pace while improving the delivery of basic services. We will continue to expand public employment through the EPWP. Also through the Presidential Employment Stimulus, the National Youth Service, and others. We will also assist civil society organisations that are creating work opportunities,” said Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa said beneficiaries of the EPWP programme have contributed to keeping communities clean.
Various sectors of EPWP bearing fruit
“We have seen the beneficiaries of the Working on Waste environmental programme helping to clean and green our streets and our communities. The Working for the Coast teams are helping clean up our country’s beaches.
“We have seen EPWP participants from the social sector involved in Early Childhood Development. [Also] in community home-based care, school feeding and community crime prevention.
“We have seen how participants in the Community Works Programme have been hard at work in our communities. [They have been] planting food gardens and assisting at home care for the old. Just very recently, we saw the great work done by the teams of Working on Fire in battling fires in the Western Cape. Some of the young people of this programme have gone on to be trained as emergency response personnel. [Some] as members of the South African Police Force, and even qualified as pilots,” said Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa said the EPWP remained a critical policy instrument to tackle unemployment and reduce poverty. He said the EPWP alongside other public and social employment programmes.
Expert pours cold water on EPWP, says it’s election talk
Economist Mandla Maleka said EPWP has not been effective in addressing unemployment.
He said EPWP was just a temporary relief that does not guarantee any permanent employment prospects.
“It [EPWP] has never made a dent in unemployment. About 20 years ago, unemployment was sitting at 25%. And now, in 2024, unemployment is at 32%. This is an indicator that EPWP is not effective.
“With EPWP you are given an opportunity to work for about a year. And then when your contract is not extended or made permanent, you are back in the community. Someone replaces you. The person who replaces you will also find themselves back in the community when their contract is not made permanent. EPWP is a revolving door. It is a plaster over a wound and not a permanent creation.
“EPWP has done nothing about employment. Ramaphosa is punting it [EPWP] now because of elections. This is not about dealing with unemployment. It is an election ploy,” said Maleka.
