Reddy is wrong

CAPE TOWN spokesperson Priya Reddy is simply wrong to say there’s a national policy that expanded public works programme (EPWP) workers should only work for a short period of time: “Illegal marchers demand permanent EPWP city jobs” (September 10).

The national Department of Public Works, responsible for the overall coordination of the EPWP, has repeatedly raised concerns with the city about its programme implementation. Compared with all of the other metros, Cape Town achieves the highest head count in terms of individual work opportunities, and the worst record for duration of work.

The city appears to be chasing headcount numbers regardless of the impact on participants and communities. Some EPWP participants in Cape Town work for just 20 days and are then ticked off as another work opportunity.

In 2003, EPWP work was, indeed, seen as a temporary stepping stone to fulltime employment. Since then, policies have been substantially adjusted in the light of persisting high levels of unemployment.

Some EPWP programmes are still temporary, particularly those in construction projects. This is why we’re now placing much greater emphasis on ongoing infrastructure maintenance.

In eThekwini, 8 000 participants are employed in what is effectively nonfulltime but permanent work. The majority in many other EPWP programmes are also employed on a relatively constant basis.

There’s much international as well as South African research that underlines that a relatively sustained household income flow by way, for instance, of the current R75.10 a day EPWP minimum stipend, has much greater impact than short bursts of cash flow. Jeremy Cronin