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The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Phase 3 has already notched up significant milestones even before it is officially launched next month, with a blazing 25 percent over achievement in its very first quarter. In the period April 2014 to June 2014, over 420 000 work opportunities were created across all EPWP sectors in all spheres of government.

Almost 76 percent of those job opportunities, exactly 318 089, were created in the rural municipalities, indicating the realization by most implementing agents that the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality were being severely experienced in those places historically side-lined from development and growth.

Speaking in Pretoria today, the Minister of Public Works, Thulas Nxesi said, “I am delighted to announce that since the implementation of the EPWP Phase 3 in April 2014, all the implementing bodies in this Programme remain steadfast in alleviating poverty and unemployment within our communities. I would like to commend KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape for having attained the highest number of work opportunities figures of 120 226 and 77 720 respectively during the period under review.”

EPWP Phase 3 implementation marked the beginning of the third lustrum of the existence of this Programme as a flagship government initiative aimed at reducing poverty and unemployment through the provision of training and work opportunities.

The objective of the EPWP Phase 3 is to provide work opportunities and income support to poor and unemployed people through labour intensive delivery of public and community assets and services, thereby contributing to development. Its implementation approach is sought to create sustainable livelihoods by focusing more on services rendered, longer duration of work opportunities and assets created in communities in improving service delivery and stimulating growth.

Cabinet also approved the establishment of the Presidential Public Employment Inter-Ministerial Committee (PPE-IMC) to coordinate and report on Public Employment Programmes. (PEPs).

Issued by: Department of Public Works