Dear Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure,

I commend the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure for taking a progressive step in addressing the long-standing structural weaknesses of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). The acknowledgment of challenges such as wage disparities, limited employment duration, and insufficient post-programme integration highlights the urgency of reforming the EPWP into a more impactful and sustainable job creation mechanism.

Minister Macpherson’s commitment to shifting the EPWP towards long-term employment through expanded labour-intensive infrastructure and green economy projects is both timely and necessary. However, for these reforms to be truly transformative, they must be community-responsive and inclusive—particularly in underdeveloped and high-unemployment regions like the Sedibeng District.

I also support the Committee's insistence on quarterly departmental reporting and the strengthening of monitoring and evaluation systems. Transparency in fund allocation, training outcomes, and long-term job tracking is essential to protect the integrity of the programme and ensure that it benefits workers—not just intermediaries.

The use of biometric systems and a revised recruitment framework is a welcomed move towards transparency and equity, but it must go hand-in-hand with improved working conditions, access to UIF, and pathways to permanent employment.

Finally, I hope that the Department also considers grassroots petitions such as the Leruntse SS Petition as vital community voices that should inform these reforms. Local civil society organisations are ready to partner in this transformation to ensure that the EPWP becomes not just a stopgap, but a true stepping stone to sustainable livelihoods.