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EPWP SOCIAL SECTOR CONFERENCE WRAPS UP WITH DIGITALISATION EMERGING AS A KEY ENABLER FOR CHANGE

February 26, 2026

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By Nonhlakanipho Masola

The Expanded Public Works Programme Social Sector Conference has concluded, having looked at how public employment programmes can continue to restore dignity, create opportunity in a rapidly changing world.
One of the key enablers participants identified was digitalisation, with young people sharing personal experiences of the transformative power of digital skills development.
As the three-day conference wrapped up, it did so with an understanding that strengthened coordination, skills innovation and meaningful partnerships are essential to building an EPWP Social Sector that truly changes lives.

The three-day Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Social Sector Conference drew to a close today, leaving behind a renewed sense of purpose, strengthened partnerships and new possibilities for the future of social service delivery.

The conference, held from 24 – 26 February 2026, brought together government leaders, practitioners and partners committed to strengthening how social services are delivered to communities that need them most.

Over the past three days, meaningful conversations unfolded around how public employment programmes can continue to restore dignity, create opportunity and respond to evolving social challenges in a rapidly changing world.

Convened by the Department of Social Development, in collaboration with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and other key stakeholders, the conference served as a strategic platform for EPWP Social Sector coordinating and implementing partners.

Public, private and community-based organisations gathered with a shared commitment to strengthening collaboration in the coordination and implementation of the EPWP, ensuring it remains responsive, inclusive and impactful.

At the heart of the conference was a clear set of objectives: to strengthen coordination across the EPWP Social Sector; to reimagine skills and training opportunities that enable more innovative and effective delivery of social services; and to deepen partnerships that open pathways for enterprise development and sustainable exit opportunities for participants.

Delegates also engaged critically with strategic policy initiatives pronounced by government, reflecting on their implications for EPWP and the broader goal of poverty eradication, while reinforcing political support for the programme’s implementation.

The conference programme was structured to encourage both reflection and action.

Plenary sessions featured political leadership, senior executives and expert voices who set the tone and strategic direction.

Technical presentations highlighted digital skills development as a key enabler for modernising service delivery, while commission work created space for honest, thematic discussions and practical feedback to the plenary.

Beyond policy discussions, the conference amplified the lived experiences of EPWP participants, whose journeys reflect the transformative power of digital skills development.

Smangele Gazu (25) from Chatsworth, Durban, affiliated with the CNDC Refadim Community Empowerment non-profit organisation, shared how she was introduced to the programme through Musa Khumalo from the Department of Social Development’s SD Chatsworth office.

“Growing up, I have always been a curious child,” she said. “This programme helped me gain the basics of IT and coding. I’ve learned how to create interactive websites, mobile applications, and to understand programming.”

Gazu is currently working on a transport app that will allow bus commuters using coupons to purchase trips via their mobile phones.

“With digitalisation being implemented, this can make life easier for many people,” she explained, adding that she also hopes to develop educational and commercial games in the future.

Muntu Nkosinathi Cele (33), an EPWP worker at the Department of Social Development from Seaview, Durban, described the opportunity as life-changing.

“I was chosen among my peers to participate in the programme through my workplace,” he said. “It has broadened my understanding of coding and the digital world, and helped me see how technology impacts our lives.”

Looking ahead, Cele hopes the programme will expand its reach. “My dream is to use the skills I’ve gained to contribute to my community and improve my career prospects.”

For Sthembile Siso Mkhize (29) from Southmead, Marianhill in Pinetown, the programme opened new horizons.

A gender-based violence activist working with departments of community safety and liaison, she was selected by her office managers based on her interest in learning new skills.

“From learning how to operate a PC to understanding computer languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript and SQL, this programme has changed how I see my life in the digital world,” she said.

Mkhize envisions using her skills to build websites and web applications for non-profits, create online platforms for education, health and social services, and develop tools for data collection to support community development. She also hopes to mentor young people in her community.

“The world belongs to the youth,” she said. “Digitalisation is the future, and if we work together, we can build a better world for young people.

As the conference concluded, it did so with a collective understanding that strengthened coordination, skills innovation and meaningful partnerships are essential to building an EPWP Social Sector that truly changes lives.

The voices of participants underscore that digitalisation is not just a policy priority, but a real and powerful tool for empowerment, inclusion and hope.