Question NW2245 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

a) In the 2022/23 financial year, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) branch has supported a total of 271 small-, medium- and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) or enterprises. Below is a breakdown of the type of the enterprises supported:

• 1. 93 Private Companies
  2. 73 cooperatives
  3. 11 Non-Profit Organisations (NPO) or Social Entrepreneurs
  4. 5 Not yet determined (as they are in the process of registration) and 3 being Close Cooperation
  5. 86 Vuk’uphile contracting companies

b) The SMMEs supported through the EPWP Branch are located throughout the country. Below is a table showing the provincial breakdown:

Table 1: Provincial breakdown of SMMEs supported in 2022/23 financial year

Province	Number of Enterprises Supported
Eastern Cape	49
Free State	10
Gauteng	0
KwaZulu-Natal	31
Limpopo	63
Mpumalanga	14
Northern Cape	20
North West	63
Western Cape	21
Grand Total	271

c) The aim of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Enterprise Development programme is to support enterprises from Programmes implemented by the EPWP sectors. Through Enterprise Development, EPWP participants are supported in their quest (desire or drive) to start and operate businesses so as to achieve sustainable livelihoods. The support offered in Enterprise Development varies from formation of enterprises to training of enterprises in business principles. Additionally, other support measures offered include but is not limited to:

1. Identification of potential enterprises in EPWP sectors and programmes
2. Providing business training
3. Building capacity of EPWP-created enterprises`
4. Providing assistance with business compliance, including business registration
5. Linking these enterprises with business development agencies and other opportunities
6. Forming linkages to aid access to markets providing financial and non-financial support

For contractors supported in the Vuk’uphile Programme, the support offered entailed facilitation of allocation of training projects for development of contractors.