In a significant push towards uplifting vulnerable communities, Ministers of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson MP, and Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mimmy Gondwe, are championing initiatives aimed at improving access to fair employment and enhancing skills development across the nation.

Their agenda revolves around vital reforms to the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and establishing partnerships that support rural students.

The ministers are resolutely committed to creating sustainable job opportunities, combating corruption, and addressing the pressing issue of youth unemployment. Given South Africa’s staggering unemployment rate, currently estimated at 33%, the urgency of their mission cannot be overstated.

During an EPWP listening tour in the Eastern Cape on October 28, Minister Macpherson engaged directly with community members who voiced their frustrations with the programme.

They cited pervasive issues such as corruption and inadequate wages, highlighting how the EPWP, though intended as a primary income source, fails to deliver long-term job security.

Macpherson was keen to stress the importance of these community insights in reshaping the EPWP into a more effective tool for empowerment and skills development.

“It is essential as a government that we do not simply change programmes without listening to communities about the issues they are experiencing,” Macpherson remarked.

“Equally, it is crucial that we do not continue with the same programmes, administration after administration, without honestly reviewing their success.”

The minister acknowledged the EPWP’s role as a temporary relief measure for many impoverished communities, providing essential short-term employment.

However, he emphasised that reform is not just desirable; it is imperative.

“The EPWP programme is ripe for reform,” he asserted, pointing to the numerous allegations of political patronage, nepotism, and corruption that have marred its effectiveness.

Macpherson is adamant about the need for a transparent and equitable EPWP, one that prioritises integrity over political favouritism.

“The best way we can achieve this is through transparency in how people are appointed and granted opportunities within the programme. We cannot allow individuals with political connections to be repeatedly selected for the EPWP,” he declared.

To tackle these challenges, Macpherson highlighted the necessity of transforming the EPWP into a genuine pathway to dignified and sustainable employment.

He recognised that the current low-paying roles within the programme are not viable in the long run, and advocated for collaboration with the private sector.

Citing the successes of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme, he suggested leveraging the EPWP budget to create better-paid, skill-oriented job opportunities for beneficiaries.

“We need to reform the programme to ensure that recipients are better compensated, ideally through permanent positions or partnerships with the private sector,” he explained.

“The lessons learned from the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme can guide us in using the EPWP budget to provide improved employment prospects for our citizens.”

In a complementary effort, Gondwe has successfully secured a partnership with Old Mutual to bolster support for rural Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students.

Starting in February 2025, career fairs will be organised at selected rural colleges, facilitating job access without necessitating travel to urban centres.

This initiative aims to furnish students with valuable job information and essential financial literacy training, thus contributing to a broader strategy to mitigate youth unemployment in rural areas.

IOL