14 547 unemployed residents received a salary via short-term income job opportunities since the 2019/2020 financial year via the City of Cape Town’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
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Between 1 July 2023 and 29 February 2024, the City’s Environment Management department created 2 172 job opportunities across the following projects:
- Kader Asmal Skills Development programme
- Carbon Smart Skills Development programme
- Invasive Species Management programme
- River Warden programme
- Rehabilitation of ecological infrastructure
- Operational functions at the City nature reserves across the metro
- People and Conservation Skills Development programme
The City invested a total of R32 million into these job opportunities.
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‘These hard-working teams perform an array of functions within the natural environment of our City,’ says Mayco member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Eddie Andrews.
‘Key focus areas for the EPWP workers are to ensure that invasive species are removed from our nature reserves, critical biodiversity sites, waterbodies and catchment areas; that the firebreaks on our nature reserves are cleared and maintained and that solid waste is removed from our vleis and wetlands for example.
‘We ensure that the teams are equipped with the necessary tools and gear to perform their functions. Informing and educating communities on environmental issues also form part of the programme.’
About 126 trainees were recruited and trained under the department’s skills development programmes since July 2023, while 27 trainees have already exited the programme for permanent, long-term employment.
A further 129 EPWP trainees completed theoretical and on-the-job training during the previous 2022/23 financial year, of which 36 moved on to mainstream employment opportunities.
This group focused on skills such as project management, project administration, quality control, data collection and management, as well as environmental awareness and stakeholder engagement.
‘Our EPWP teams play a critical role in the functioning of our various environmental management programmes and the overall maintenance at the City nature reserves,’ Andrews adds.
‘I believe the need for this workforce will only grow as we expand on our efforts to preserve the natural spaces in our ever-growing city.’
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Also read:
City budgets R500m for EPWP projects to create more job opportunities
Picture: City of Cape Town / Facebook