Minister Highlights EPWP Success as Programme Creates 1.7 Million Work Opportunities

Minister of Social Development Ms Sisisi Tolashe has described the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) as a significant success, highlighting the Social Sector’s role in improving the lives of communities through initiatives such as Home-Based Community Care, Early Childhood Development (ECD), and School Nutrition programmes.

Speaking at the EPWP Social Sector Conference currently underway at the Southern Sun Elangeni Hotel in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, the Minister emphasised the importance of re-imagining a digital future to meet evolving service delivery demands. She noted that the sector has introduced innovative initiatives, including e-learning platforms, which should be expanded to empower young people and improve access to opportunities.

The three-day conference is hosted under the theme, “Revolutionising Access to Social Services through Digital Skills in the EPWP Social Sector.” The event brings together EPWP Social Sector coordinating and implementing partners, alongside stakeholders from government, the private sector, and community organisations, to strengthen collaboration and improve programme implementation.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director-General of the Expanded Public Works Programme, Ms Carmen-Joy Abrahams, announced that the programme has created 1.7 million work opportunities during the fifth phase of implementation.

Ms Abrahams highlighted that skills development remains a critical component of EPWP Phase V, emphasising the need for market-oriented training initiatives that equip participants with practical and relevant skills to enhance their employability beyond the programme. She further stressed the importance of strengthening partnerships to support effective training delivery.

Key partners, including the National Skills Fund (NSF) and various Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), continue to play an essential role in providing accredited and industry-relevant training opportunities aimed at improving participants’ long-term employment prospects.

The conference continues to focus on strengthening partnerships and leveraging digital innovation to enhance access to social services while creating sustainable pathways for skills development and employment.