By Anita Dangazele
As the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) marks 20 years of providing short-term job opportunities, President Cyril Ramaphosa launched the fifth phase of the programme on Wednesday.
The EPWP was officially launched in Limpopo in 2004 to create work opportunities for those unable to find employment in the formal economy.
Since then, the programme has created more than 14-million work opportunities in partnership with the government and the private sector.
The 20th anniversary milestone celebration was held at the Buffalo City Stadium in East London, Eastern Cape.
The province, which has the highest unemployment rate in the country, is the third biggest beneficiary of the programme,.
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane said the launch of the fifth phase of the EPWP would help address the high unemployment rate in the province.
“We are hoping to move from being the third highest beneficiary to being the number one highest beneficiary in the fifth phase. Another issue is that our people are migrating to other provinces just to benefit from EPWP, whereas they could be benefiting in our province.
“The fifth phase is going to ensure that our people do not have to leave the province for job opportunities. Also, our automotive industry is growing, therefore this is going to address the
question of unemployment in the province,” Mabuyane said.
In his keynote address, Ramaphosa said the EPWP testifies to the vision of a developmental state that is pro-poor and focused on tackling the root causes of poverty, unemployment, and inequality.
“Over these past five years, no less than R41-billion has been transferred to poor households, ensuring that participants and their households live above the poverty line.
“The activities EPWP participants have been engaged in go far beyond earning a livelihood to support themselves. They are contributing to building a better South Africa that is caring, that is united and that leaves no one behind,” Ramaphosa said.
He said his government would deliver five million jobs through the Expanded Public Works Programme over the next five years.
EPWP beneficiary Nomaphelo Mdayi, a trained firefighter at Working On Fire, said she owes everything she has to the programme.
“I’ve gained a lot because of this programme. I was deployed in Canada three times [as a firefighter] because of this programme. I now have my own business … [and] I am really grateful for the EPWP programme,” Mdayi said.
Pictured above: President Cyril Ramaphosa speaking at the event.
Image source: Facebook
