The contribution of the expanded public works programme infrastructure sector to alleviate conditions of poverty
- Authors: Jacobs, Andrew
- Date: 2025-04
- Subjects: South Africa -- Expanded Public Works Programme , Public works -- South Africa , Poverty -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/${Handle} , vital:79254
- Description: Almost 30 years after the end of apartheid South Africa continues to experience the highest rates of unemployment, poverty and inequality in the world. This has the potential to result in massive socio-economic instability. Renewed interest has been identified in public works programmes, which has the potential to contribute towards reducing the triple burden of unemployment, poverty and inequality. The protection and creation of jobs through public employment programmes, including the creation of jobs through the traditional Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), has become an important part of South Africa’s strategy for economic growth and stability. The aim of this study was to contribute to a deeper insight into the capacity of the EPWP to contribute towards reducing unemployment and poverty to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable communities and set out to: - Explore how employment under the infrastructure sector of EPWP has contributed to the household income of the beneficiaries. Explore how the income received from employment under the infrastructure sector of EPWP is used within the households. Identify and explore the skills the beneficiaries have developed by participating in the infrastructure sector of EPWP. Explore the perceived experiences of the beneficiaries’ participation in the infrastructure sector of EPWP. A qualitative case study design was employed to explore the insights and experiences of the beneficiaries participating in the infrastructure sector of EPWP in the Buffalo City Metro (BCM). Data was collected using semi-structured face-to-face interviews with the current and former EPWP beneficiaries in BCM to understand the experiential lens of the participants. The findings indicated that income received from EPWP employment is a valuable supplement to household income, enabling households to manage under conditions of increasing costs of living. Key shortcomings of the EPWP include the temporary nature of benefits, low income levels, inadequate training and inability to improve future employability. The study revealed the importance of income relief provided through short-term employment under EPWP for those unemployed beneficiaries living in conditions of poverty. Despite its shortcomings, the potential of EPWP as a policy tool to assist low-skilled unemployed workers to cope with economic shocks in the short term cannot be ignored. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development and Tourism, 2025
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- Date Issued: 2025-04
An evaluation of Expanded Public Works Programmes (EPWPs) in addressing youth unemployment in South Africa: the case of Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality in Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Tyesi, Oyama https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5937-2399
- Date: 2020-01
- Subjects: South Africa -- Expanded Public Works Programme , Youth -- Employment -- South Africa , Unemployment -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/29409 , vital:77964
- Description: The study used qualitative methodology to investigate the effectiveness of Expanded Public Works Programmes (EPWPs) in relation to addressing youth unemployment in Raymond Mhlaba Municipality in the Eastern Cape. In Raymond Mhlaba, youth unemployment remains a serious challenge despite the government having adopted EPWPs as a strategy for employment creation. The main objective of the study was to determine the contribution of EPWP in youth employment creation in Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality. Findings of the study revealed that EPWPS were drawing significant numbers of unemployed people into productive work accompanied and as such have succeeded in creating work opportunities. Moreover, EPWPs have been accompanied by training and skills development with the aim of enabling the employability of the youth beyond EPWPs. However, despite the contribution of EPWPs in addressing youth unemployment, its effectiveness is hampered by a number of challenges including lack of funding, inadequate organizational capacity, lack of training and skills upgrading and poor monitoring and evaluation mechanisms among others. In an effort to find solutions and to improve the effectiveness of these programs, the study recommends the allocation of more funding and resources to EPWPs, prioritizing training and skills development and the improvement of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. , Thesis (MCom (DevStud)) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2020
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- Date Issued: 2020-01