I am pleased to update the public that the City of Tshwane has, after day one of registration which started yesterday (Monday 27 November), registered 19 673 residents onto our EPWP database which will see the fair and equitable recruitment of EPWP work opportunities so that the burden of poverty, inequality and unemployment may be alleviated to some measure.
Specific registrations per region are as follows:
Region 1: 3039
Region 2: 4536
Region 3: 4476
Region 4: 1341
Region 5: 528
Region 6: 3049
Region 7: 2704
Total: 19 673
We are pleased at these numbers for just day one as this demonstrates that our residents are heeding our call to help us help them take hold of work opportunities to liberate themselves from the throes of poverty and unemployment. Most of our 68 registration venues across all the seven regions of the city were flooded with potential beneficiaries who expressed a keen interest to join hands with the DA-led administration to make Tshwane a better place to live in.
Yesterday we experienced some logistical hiccups at some of the registration venues, but we are confident that, from today onwards, until the close of registration on Friday December 1, 2017, it would be all systems-go and the registration process is expected to proceed smoothly.
Sunday’s disruption at the final day of the #EPWPRoadshow in Mobopane by a small group of politically motivated individuals was disappointing but unsurprising. Nevertheless we are pleased that is was members of the community themselves who dealt with the disrupters.
This too is a demonstration that our people are in support of an EPWP system that is free of corruption and politicisation. This bodes well for the future of the reformed EPWP system that was passed by Council on 28 September 2017 by the current administration.
The passing of this EPWP recruitment policy framework will ensure that the City employs workers on a temporary or contract basis with the intention of transferring skills and at the same time providing the much needed income. However, the programme was marred by nepotism, cronyism and some appointments were made on the basis of political affiliation.
This administration has adopted the principle of ‘Good Governance’ as one of its strategic priorities, which requires us to continuously consult with our communities in the law making and governance related programmes.
One of the proposed amendments to the revised policy includes the registration of eligible EPWP beneficiaries on a Central Database, with beneficiaries selected through an open and audited lottery-like system.
This random selection will be open to public observation and such selection process will also be published in advance in the Wards and Regions from which the EPWP beneficiaries will be recruited.
Let me also emphasise that this selection process will be subjected to an independent audit to ensure transparency.
Quick Facts
WHAT IS THE EPWP CENTRAL DATABASE?
The EPWP central database is a database which will be used by the City of Tshwane to store information on interested unemployed city residents. The City will start to appoint beneficiaries from the central database. The process of appointing beneficiaries from the central database will occur by way of random selection, which is to be achieved either by a manual or electronic lottery.
WHO SHOULD REGISTER ON THE EPWP DATABASE?
Registration is open to members of households:
- whose household head has less than a primary school education;
- that have fewer than one full-time person earning an income;
- where subsistence agriculture is the source of income; and
- which rely on social grants, including disability grants.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTERING ON THE DATABASE?
The applicant must –
- be unemployed at the time of registration;
- be a South African citizen and a resident of Tshwane;
- be of a legal employable age;
- produce a certified copy of his or her ID or, in the absence of an ID, a birth certificate, driver’s licence, affidavit or proof of application for an ID; and
- produce proof of residence
- meet the physical requirements and specifications for the job opportunity.
We are doing all this ensure that we raise awareness about the revised EPWP policy, to inform potential beneficiaries about the registration venues and to eliminate any chance of political interference, cronyism and nepotism. We want to assure our communities that politicians will be barred from meddling with the selection process.
This administration is committed to be all-inclusive of all race groups, gender and age (above 18). As such, we encourage all unemployed residents in Tshwane to take hold of these opportunities. And we encourage our people to register this week at various registration venues across all the seven regions between 8am and 4pm. Residents have until Friday, 01 December 2017, to do so.
We will continue to strive for transparency and accountability in the implementation of government programmes.