The City of Cape Town is proud to report that more than 3 600 Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers were appointed permanently within the City since 2015.
Since 2003, the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) has been one of the country’s key programmes aimed at poverty relief by creating temporary work for the unemployed. While the majority of EPWP jobs are menial in nature, the City of Cape Town has worked hard to ensure that candidates develop skills and networks to pave the way to more gainful employment wherever possible. Many projects are even specifically designed to maximise skills transfer.
Reflecting this effort, more than 3 600 permanent worker positions have been filled by residents who have previously benefitted from the EPWP programme. This represents approximately 27% of new permanent workers appointed.
Workers end up in a wide variety of jobs, including handyman, process controller, learner Law Enforcement Officer and traffic attendant, librarian, clerk and many more.
‘In a country like South Africa where so many families have been denied opportunities to develop themselves, a programme like this has immense value. This is not just practical value to those families who benefit, but symbolic value in that it shows even the most marginalised have the potential to turn their fortunes around and participate meaningfully in the economy.
‘We encourage residents who are unemployed to register with the City’s Jobseekers Database at their local subcouncil so that they can be considered for these and other short-term job opportunities when they become available.
‘There is a strong appetite among Capetonians for these kinds of development opportunities, and if we can harness this correctly, the sky is the limit for the City of Cape Town,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management, Alderman Grant Twigg.
What to know about EPWP registration:
- Visit your local subcouncil to register your name with the Jobseekers Database
- It is absolutely free. The City would never ask community members to pay for work opportunities, or pay to apply for a work opportunity.
- For more information, contact the EPWP HelpDesk on 021 400 9402 or email: Epwp.Help@capetown.gov.za