Gqeberha: Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson is set to embark on a nationwide listening tour next week, beginning in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, to address community concerns and gather feedback on the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). The initiative aims to reform the programme, which has faced allegations of corruption and patronage, by inviting community members to share their experiences.
According to South African Government News Agency, Minister Macpherson will be joined by local officials, including the Mayor of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, Gary van Niekerk, Ward Councillor Jonny Arendse, and EPWP officials. The EPWP serves as a crucial mechanism for labor absorption and income support for impoverished households, by creating work opportunities through public sector expenditure on goods and services.
The programme has faced criticism over the years due to the allocation of jobs, which some allege have been distributed based on political patronage rather than m
erit. The listening tour seeks to address these concerns by directly engaging with communities across the nation, allowing them to voice their experiences and challenges with the EPWP.
The insights gathered from the tour will inform Minister Macpherson’s vision to reshape the EPWP, focusing on reducing allegations of corruption and ensuring fair job distribution. The initiative underscores the government’s commitment to reforming the EPWP to better serve its intended purpose of providing temporary or ongoing employment opportunities through various channels, including government, contractors, and non-governmental organizations.