STATEMENT BY THE CITY’S EXECUTIVE MAYOR, PATRICIA DE LILLE
City has created 100 000 work opportunities
As part of our commitment to building an opportunity city, the City of Cape
Town has created 100 262 work opportunities through our Expanded Public
Works Programme (EPWP) since 2011.
Our commitment to redress has ensured that EPWP projects give
opportunities to those residents who are in need of financial relief, while also
facilitating the development of practical work experience. The number of
EPWP sites across the city has almost doubled in the last three years, to 946
sites. This has had a positive impact on our ability to deliver better quality
services, while simultaneously creating work opportunities.
So far, the City of Cape Town has spent R309 million on EPWP wages in the
last three financial years. This provides short- to medium-term poverty relief for
poor and unemployed residents. The money earned through City-funded
projects can be ploughed back into the communities. This in turn provides
cash injections to small and informal business.
Today I visited the Kader Asmal Integrated Catchment Project and spent
some time working with the EPWP workers present at the site. Launched in
2011 in memory of the late Minister of Water Affairs, this is the biggest EPWP
project in the city. At any one time, it employs an average of 850 people. As
part of the Mayoral Special Jobs Programme, these workers have been
tasked with cleaning rivers to improve the city’s fresh water and terrestrial
ecosystems. This includes removal of invasive plants, river clean-ups, litter
disposal and the repair of leaking sewers. The project has significantly
improved the state of our rivers and wetlands. Six rivers, including the
Vygekraal River, Elsies River, Jakkalsvlei River and Liesbeek River all flow into
the Black River in addition to various canals.
In order to complete these tasks, the EPWP workers receive training related
to:
 Herbicide use
 Water safety (including swimming lessons)
 Health and safety
 Snake awareness
 Chain saw operation
These transferable skills give workers the necessary work experience and
training to increase their opportunities for employment after their contracts
are completed. In addition, there are opportunities for the workers to be
promoted to supervisors and then quality controllers.
Other City EPWP projects have also contributed significantly towards
increased service delivery across a range of directorates. This includes road
maintenance, customer service liaison at Drivers’ Licence Testing Centres, the
street people reintegration and wellness programme, queue marshaling at
health care facilities, and janitorial services in informal settlements.
The City of Cape Town has received an award from Vienna for having one of
the most innovative policies in the world for the MyCiTi’s Universal Accessibility
Policy. This programme employs EPWP workers to evaluate the accessibility of
transport routes for commuters with disabilities. Almost half of the workers who
execute this audit are disabled.
Our efforts have also been lauded by the National Government, which has
recognised the City as one of the leading metros for EPWP projects in South
Africa. Last year, at the National Department of Public Works’ Kamosa
Awards, the City of Cape Town won in the category of Social Sector: Best
Municipality. The hard work put into the Kader Asmal project also secured our
victory in the Environment and Culture Sector for Best Metropolitan
Municipality.
The City of Cape Town’s EPWP target for 2014/15 is 40 000 job opportunities
and a budget of R122 million has been allocated to line departments to
support the roll-out of projects.
All unemployed residents who are interested in EPWP work are encouraged
to visit their nearest Subcouncil office to be registered on the City’s jobseekers
database. If residents have moved to another area, they will need to reregister at the nearest Subcouncil office.
Together with the residents of Cape Town, the City of Cape Town will
continue to lead the country in providing opportunities for those most in need
and in so doing help make progress possible, together.
End
Issued by: Integrated Strategic Communication and Branding Department,
City of Cape Town
Media enquiries: Pierrinne Leukes, Spokesperson for the Executive Mayor –
Patricia de Lille, City of Cape Town, Tel: 021 400 1302 or Cell: 084 272 7614, Email: Pierrinne.leukes@capetown.gov.za