The North West Provincial Government created 55 830 jobs during the 2011/12 financial year thanks to the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). This is according to a report submitted to the Provincial Executive Council.
According to the 4th Quarter Report on EPWP phase 2 for the past financial year tabled by the Executive Council Cluster on Economic and Infrastructure Development, over R6,2 billion was spent across departments on 1 554 projects.
In total, the provincial government created 27 289 jobs, national government created 17 855 jobs and local government created 10 686 jobs. The Mahikeng Local Municipality recently scooped the National Kamoso Award as the leading municipality in the implementation of the EPWP.
MEC for Public Works, Roads and Transport Raymond Elisha reported that the highest wage paid for EPWP in the province was R94 for beneficiaries who participated in the infrastructure sector while the lowest was R41 for social sector projects.
The infrastructure sector of the EPWP involved the use of labour-intensive construction methods to deliver service in all government-funded infrastructure projects for constructing rural and low-volume roads, municipal pipelines, pavements and storm water drains.
To continue creating job opportunities, the executive committee decided that all heads of department must prioritise the programme to meet its targets. This means that all senior managers must sign performance agreements that integrate EPWP implementation and success.
Urging departments to intensify job creation in the current fi year, Premier Thandi Modise reminded MECs that using labour-intensive methods in government-funded service delivery projects would create more jobs and stimulate entrepreneurship.
“This means those who have acquired skills through training should make way for new beneficiaries. Mentorship should sup- port exit strategies to ensure that those who have completed their learnership programmes stand on their own,” Premier Modise said.
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