Question NW1818 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
19 May 2022 - NW1818
Siwisa, Ms AM to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
With reference to her reply to oral question 248 on 4 May 2022, what total number of novice businesses of persons with disabilities, women and youth will be assisted in taking their businesses forward and be able to create jobs that will benefit the marginalised masses who do not have the relevant qualifications to be employed by bigger companies?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:
I have been informed by the Department that as a flagship government programme, the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP)’s core objective is to create work opportunities for the poor and unemployed people of South Africa. Enterprise Development support is provided at a marginal scale to assist with sustainable pathways for participants and advance the use of labour-intensive construction methods. The EPWP has a Contractor Development Programme which is called Vuk’uphile. The Vuk’uphile Contractor Development Programme is one of the programmes implemented by public bodies as part of the National Contractor Development Programme (NCDP) that is championed by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). The NCDP aims to develop emerging contractors and transform the construction industry. In the 2021/22 financial year, 215 Contractors were trained through the Vuk’uphile Programme. Amongst the 215 contractors trained in the 2021/22 financial year, the following demographics were included: 91 Women, 45 Youth and 2 Persons with Disabilities. Training offered to contractors in the Vuk’uphile Learnership Programme is at National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 4, covering labour-intensive methods delivered through theoretical and practical training, to ensure contractors can acquire skills to become successful contractors. Public bodies are still being engaged for the 2022/23 financial year, with commitments to train 70 contractors thus far. The EPWP Vuk’uphile Learnership Programme will continue to ensure that the participation of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities is optimised in its implementation.