Question NW744 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

Share this page:

25 May 2020 - NW744

Profile picture: Graham, Ms SJ

Graham, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

What (a) is the status of the number of youth already recruited (b) are the districts from where they were recruited in respect of the target of recruiting 20 400 youth to assist the Department of Health; (2) (a) (i) who is responsible for the training of these participants (ii) what are the costs of the training and (iii) what total number of participants have been trained since 1 February 2020, (b) what is the status of the procurement of the personal protective equipment for the participants before they embark on their activities, (c) what is the envisaged (i) start date for the participants to begin actively working and (ii) duration of the project. and (d)(i) who will be paying the participants and (ii) what is the rate of payment?

Reply:

 

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

(1) (a) As at 27 April 2020, a total of 22 013 participants were recruited in all nine provinces in the country to participate in the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) COVID-19 response, to assist the Department of Health. The majority of the participants recruited represents the youth category (16 – 35years). However, in exceptional cases, persons outside of the youth category were recruited as the Non-Profit Organisations were unable to get sufficient numbers of youth participants targeted in the programme. Of the participants recruited, 21 379 are youth with the remaining 634 outside of the youth category.

Of the 22 013 participants recruited 15 012 are female, and 7001 are male. The table below provides further detail of the 22 013 educational/qualification level.

Qualifications

Number of participants

Grade 10

1911

Grade 11

3460

Grade 12

16321

Post-school Certificates Including N levels

238

Diploma

44

Degree

39

Total

22 013

(1) (b) Yes, the 191 NPOs to be contracted to cover the 44 districts and 8 Metropolitan Municipalities in the country. In line with the EPWP Recruitment Guidelines, all the NPOs are required to recruit participants close to their place of residence.

2(a) (i) It was agreed, and it is a requirement, prior to EPWP participants beginning work, the Department of Health (DoH) will train EPWP participants. DoH officials stationed within the respective Public Health Centres, where the participants will be deployed, will undertake the training. Training will also include infection prevention control.

(ii) There is no cost to the training provided by the DOH.

(iii) The training is provided by the Department of Health and is ongoing.

(2)(b) Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) have been procured for about five weeks of work. Pending approval of budget requests from National Treasury, the remainder of the PPEs will be acquired. PPEs, including hand sanitisers, masks and gloves. The use of PPEs is mandatory.

(2)(c)(i) The project start date is still to be confirmed by the DoH after finalising logistical processes, including the notification of Provincial Health MECs and Executive Mayors.

(ii) The duration of the project is for three (3) months.

(2)(d)(i) The DPWI EPWP COVID-19 response participants will be paid by the DPWI through the EPWP NSS: NPO programme budget for 2020/21.

(ii) A daily wage of R101.00 will be paid to each participant. This is in line with a daily wage rate of the EPWP NSS NPO programme for 2020/21 financial year.