Training empowers

THE roads and public works department has initiated a turnaround strategy to produce supervisors for ‘household’ contractors under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) following a disclaimer received from the auditor general.

The department recently trained 48 people from the eight municipalities in the Chris Hani district as supervisors.

Project manager Simon Makambi said the training was worth R250 000.

A progress report was also communicated to measure the performance of the EPWP in the area.

Department communications manager Sisanda George said there was a consensus that work was needed to roll back the effects of poverty, unemployment and inequality via the National Development Plan which focused on a growing and inclusive economy, a healthy population, an educated population and vibrant communities.

George said the youth would be prioritised in the economic transformation programme, adding that the new EPWP phase three would build on the previous year's success by providing six million work opportunities by 2019.

Outlining the achievements of the department through the Community Based Public Works Programme he said it continued to resonate with the needs of the poorest people.

Municipalities had created jobs but had not reached their targets.

“Under-performance has been underpinned by a number of factors, namely lack of the requisite capacity to undertake labour intensive projects, focusing more on the incentive grant and not reporting on their core projects and late planning.”

The department was currently providing technical support to municipalities to assist them in numerous challenges, George said, with its main contribution to poverty alleviation through the flagship Household Contractor Programme in which 40 000 people in the province, particularly women, are currently employed.

The department had recruited and trained 650 learners into an artisan development programme.