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13 June 2005

North West government departments have been urged to work together with Public Works on the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to accelerate the rolling out of the programme.

National Portfolio Committee on Public Works Chairperson, Fezile Bengu said, this would assist in closing the gaps the department was facing while implementing the EPWP project.

"The EPWP is not Public Works' baby alone, but a joint initiative of all departments. A proper coordination and partnership within the departments would close the blockages and challenges the program is faced with," said Mr Bengu.

The Chairperson, accompanied by 14 other members of the committee from the National Assembly visited the province to assess the extent of the implementation of the R22 million EPWP launched last year and its impact on communities.

The Portfolio Committee visited the Modimola Pilot Project and the Mmabatho Convention Centre Paving and Landscaping Project but intimated that some of the projects could be monitored more effectively.

The project includes basic vegetable gardens and chicken farming as well as the labour intensive road construction in Modimola.

"We need to tackle the shortcomings and blockages. The idea of the EPWP is to capacitate people with skills to be employable in the job market at the same time addressing the issue of development. So if the projects are not properly monitored we would have failed the people," Mr Bengu added.

According to Public Works Deputy Director-General (DDG), Lydia Sebego, the first phase of the Modimola project was regarded as a test stage, and during that period, the beneficiaries acquired skills in brick making and bricklaying, road construction and maintenance as well as vegetable and chicken farming.

"About R1 million has already been spent on the EPWP project, which is in partnership with Departments of Transport and Roads, Agriculture, Environment, Conservation and Tourism and has so far created over 16000 jobs," said the DDG - North West News Service

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Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
13 June 2005