Question NW440 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

1. What is the latest update about Operation Bring Back:

The Department is anticipating to appoint service providers to deal with the illegal occupation, stolen and illegal transferred properties under OBB by the end of the financial year and currently referring cases to law enforcement agencies and necessary legal actions is underway.

1. Expanded Public Works Programme
2. Recruitment of EPWP Participants

The department is embarking on a process to review the EPWP Recruitment Guidelines to ensure that the programme recruits participants in a fair, transparent and equitable manner. This will be done and finalised in the 2025/26 financial year. Furthermore, the department is working towards the EPWP Policy which will guide public bodies on how to implement EPWP.

1. Skills Development

The programme needs to move beyond short-term employment by making skills development the central pillar of EPWP. There is also a need to shift the focus from “piece jobs” to creating certifiable skills that are in demand across various sectors. Training must therefore be sufficiently supported to enable training on all EPWP projects through EPWP funds from various sources.

These will be achieved through partnerships with Training Institutions, establishment of certification frameworks for EPWP graduates, ensuring their skills are recognised in the formal job market and integrating on-the-job training, internships, and apprenticeships to enhance skills development, linking participants with formal employment opportunities.

1. Enterprise Development

Enterprise development must be strengthened and improved for sustainable livelihoods. That will be achieved through the promotion and strengthening the enterprise development in projects by providing the training at the initial implementation stage of the project. This, with the aim of encouraging participants to identify business opportunities that they might venture into while they are in a project.

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MR. D MACPHERSON, MP

MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE

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