President Jacob Zuma is expected to launch the third phase of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) on Friday in Keiskammahoek, near King Williams Town, in the Eastern Cape.

The new phase will kick start the creation of six million work opportunities, Zuma announced during the State of the Nation Address in June 2014.

"Government has since 2004 run the successful Expanded Public Works Programme, which provides work opportunities and training for the unemployed.

“The new phase will provide six million work opportunities by 2019. We are building on the phenomenal success of the past few years,” Zuma said.

The EPWP was launched in 2004. It is a nationwide programme covering all spheres of government and state-owned enterprises.

The programme provides an important avenue for labour absorption and income transfers to poor households in the short to medium-term.

The EPWP Projects employ workers on a temporary or on-going basis either by government, contractors or other non-governmental organisations under the Ministerial Conditions of Employment for the EPWP or learnership employment conditions.

Since its inception, the EPWP has created a total of 5.5-million work opportunities.