Reconfiguring EPWP into more sustainable job creation programme; with Ministry

Video The Portfolio Committee welcomed the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure's ongoing efforts to reform the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) into a more viable and sustainable job creation initiative. It acknowledged the work underway to enhance the programme's impact and long-term benefit for South Africans. The Committee noted several challenges that continued to undermine the programme’s effectiveness, including disparities in wages, the short average duration of employment (approximately 76 days), and the difficulties many beneficiaries face in securing meaningful or permanent work after exiting the programme. Concern was also expressed that service providers delivering training appeared to be the primary beneficiaries, while many workers received daily wages between R100 and R200 without access to basic protections, such as unemployment insurance or medical aid. Importantly, the Committee welcomed the Department’s piloting of biometric systems and the review of the EPWP recruitment policy framework, recognising these as vital steps towards a fair, secure, and transparent recruitment process. To ensure accountability and measurable progress, the Committee resolved that the Department must appear before it quarterly to report on the implementation of reform measures. In addition, the Department must expand its monitoring and evaluation systems to improve transparency regarding fund expenditure, grant disbursement, outcomes achieved, beneficiary profiles, the creation of meaningful employment, and the nature and scope of training provided. The Committee reiterated that the Department’s mandate to promote economic growth and job creation through support for infrastructure and related projects was clear, and must be pursued in a manner that delivers tangible benefits to South Africans. It also emphasised the importance of protecting the EPWP from political misuse, and called for clear reporting on how the programme leads to permanent employment opportunities. Finally, the Committee commended the Department’s partnerships with the Department of Higher Education and Training and technical and vocational education and training colleges, which aimed to equip beneficiaries with critical skills, and looked forward to meaningful progress in the implementation of EPWP reforms.