EPWP PHASE 5 TO CREATE 5 MILLION WORK OPPORTUNITIES, BACKED BY R178 BILLION INVESTMENT

By Nonhlakanipho Masola

• EPWP Phase 5 will create 5 million work opportunities between 2024 and 2029, supported by a R178 billion national investment.
• New technology-driven monitoring and stricter recruitment controls aim to strengthen transparency, accountability and programme integrity.
• Expanded skills development, artisan training and enterprise support reposition EPWP as a pathway to long-term employment and sustainable livelihoods.

Durban, KwaZulu-Natal – Deputy Director-General for the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) at the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, Ms Carmen-Joy Abrahams, delivered a decisive vision for the future of the programme during the EPWP Social Sector Conference in Durban, outlining an ambitious roadmap for EPWP Phase 5

Abrahams announced that Phase 5 aims to create five million work opportunities between April 2024 and March 2029, backed by an estimated R178 billion investment over the five-year period. She described the new phase not merely as a continuation of existing initiatives, but as a strategic repositioning of the EPWP that strengthens governance, sharpens accountability mechanisms and enhances the integrity of implementation.

Strengthening Governance and Accountability

Central to Phase 5 is the introduction of tighter recruitment guidelines to curb abuse, patronage, and irregular beneficiary selection processes. Abrahams emphasised that transparency and ethical implementation remain fundamental pillars of the programme’s reform agenda.

To improve oversight and ensure credible reporting, EPWP will introduce technology-driven monitoring systems, including electronic reporting platforms, biometric pilot projects, strengthened verification systems and improved data integration across departments.

She explained that integrated systems will enable government to track whether participants were previously social grant beneficiaries, allowing for more accurate measurement of the programme’s impact on poverty reduction and economic mobility.
“Sustainable development requires us to measure impact meaningfully. We must be able to determine whether participation in EPWP changes the trajectory of households,” she said.

From Safety Net to Structured Economic Pathway

A significant shift under Phase 5 is the repositioning of EPWP from a temporary safety-net intervention to a structured pathway toward economic inclusion. Training has been placed at the centre of this transition, with strengthened partnerships involving Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), TVET colleges and private sector stakeholders.

These collaborations aim to expand accredited skills development, artisan training, enterprise development support and linkages to longer-term employment opportunities. Abrahams stressed that work opportunities must translate into employability, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.

Programme assessments indicate that approximately 18% of participants secure stable employment after exiting EPWP, while a further 19% transition into self-employment or start their own businesses.

Employment outcomes are largely concentrated in community services, construction and artisan trades, sectors that simultaneously address service delivery needs while stimulating local economic activity.
“The programme does not only provide income support; it restores dignity and builds pathways for future opportunity,” she emphasised.

Targeted Inclusion and Social Impact

Abrahams reaffirmed Phase 5’s demographic targets, which include 60% participation by women, 55% youth inclusion and increased participation of persons with disabilities. She highlighted the critical role of the EPWP Social Sector in delivering essential community-based services such as early childhood development, home-based care, community safety and social protection support.

Beyond income generation, she noted that the programme continues to strengthen vulnerable households and create tangible community assets that support long-term development outcomes.

Aligning with National Development Priorities

Positioning EPWP Phase 5 within South Africa’s broader development agenda, Abrahams underscored its alignment with inclusive growth objectives and government’s Medium-Term Development priorities. She added that digital transformation and innovation will be key enablers in expanding programme reach, improving operational efficiency and ensuring measurable results.

As Phase 5 unfolds, government is positioning EPWP not only as a poverty-alleviation mechanism but also as a deliberate instrument for structural economic inclusion, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable livelihoods and social transformation.