The City of Tshwane is in the process of reforming its Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) recruitment policy and bring to an end years of nepotism, cronyism and patronage.
The City said Ever since its inception, EPWP has been mired in controversy. A system that was supposed to grant the poorest of the poor access to job opportunities and skills transfer, was abused to extend networks of patronage.
The reforming of policy will also aim to distinguish EPWP from the City’s internship policy and ensure that there is no conflict in the way the City applies grant funding and how it applies SETA funding.
Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Mr Solly Msimanga, reiterated his commitment to ensure that “EPWP work is done fairly for the 23 000 EPWP jobs we aim to create in the coming financial year as announced in April’s State of the Capital Address.”
Once the policy is adopted, it will ensure that there are no more insiders and outsiders, that councilors will no longer play a part in identifying and recruiting beneficiaries, and will be open to all of those in need.
The City believes that the above reforms will win back the trust of communities in handling public works jobs.