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President Cyril Ramaphosa at the celebration of EPWP’s 20th anniversary ( Image courtesy: SABC NEWS)
Nomfundo Ngobese
(The Post News) – President Cyril Ramaphosa celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in East London, Eastern Cape, on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.
EPWP, born in 2003 to ease poverty by offering temporary work to the unskilled, unemployed, poor, and vulnerable in Limpopo Province, went national in 2004.
President Ramaphosa expressed his happiness, saying, “I am delighted to be here in Monti to celebrate the 20th anniversary of EPWP. This is a truly joyous occasion as EPWP has successfully reached every province in South Africa, surpassing all our other programs.”
He said that the program has had a significant impact over the years, benefiting millions of South Africans. It has been active in every province and town for the past twenty years, positively affecting the lives of 14 million people. Created to address poverty, the EPWP’s influence has exceeded expectations. President Ramaphosa highlighted that it has become so important that it goes beyond the various sectors of our economy.
EPWP began in Limpopo, providing work opportunities for those unable to secure formal employment. Since then, it has burgeoned, generating over 14 million job opportunities across various public employment sectors, partnering with more than 300 public bodies nationwide.
Participants in EPWP have engaged in diverse sectors, including community cleaning, road maintenance, bridge construction, community crime prevention, gardening, and assistance for the elderly.
President Ramaphosa highlighted the country’s involvement in crucial social sectors, including early childhood development, school feeding programs, and community safety initiatives. Looking ahead, he outlined plans for Phase Five of EPWP, aiming to leverage the program’s experience to combat unemployment and poverty more effectively. “We are targeting to have five million participants in the next five years, in the phase we are going into. Whereas we did 14 million in the last 20 years, in the next 5 years we want to do 5 million,” said Ramaphosa.
Phase Five will prioritize targeted exit strategies for participants, focusing on training, enterprise development, and other employment opportunities. Ramaphosa stressed the importance of fair recruitment practices and transparent fund allocation to ensure the program’s success.
President Ramaphosa confirmed that the organisation is dedicated to assisting entrepreneurs and generating employment opportunities for all South Africans. He stressed the importance of a zero-tolerance approach to favoritism, nepotism, and corruption.
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