By Amy Musgrave
There are several concerns regarding the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), including political patronage, corruption and limited skills gained from the programme.
Earlier this week, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson, who is on a nationwide listening tour on the EPWP, said it had been tainted by allegations of sex for work and nepotism.
Another concern is funding for the programme.
The minster has told the portfolio committee on public works and infrastructure that the department intended to lobby hard for funding to retain the EPWP.
He said the department was looking at leveraging budgeted money with the private sector to increase the EPWP’s value.
The EPWP has suffered a R700 million budget cut in recent years, which has adversely affected deliverables.
In response, committee chairperson Carol Phiri said: “We are committed to working with the (department) to ensure that the EPWP is properly funded and maintained for the benefit of many.”
Committee members agreed with the department that the EPWP was not merely a labour or economic issue, but also had social function of bridging the economic participation gap.
By collaborating with entities like the Construction Industry Development Board, social responsibility initiatives could be put in place to provide individuals with real job opportunities, she said.
The committee has recommended that the department find ways to incentivise municipalities that effectively managed the programme, “rather than taking it away”.
While Macpherson has a number of concerns regarding the programme, he has said it remained an important tool to help people access some form of employment while assisting in the delivery of services.
“If something is broken, we must fix it,” he said.
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