Thesis (M. Ed.) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / This mini-dissertation describes the research report carried out at Senwamokgope Township, Greater Letaba Municipality in Limpopo Province where a study was undertaken to investigate the effects of training offered in Expanded Public Works Programme projects on youth employability. The research is undertaken at a time in South Africa where job losses and retrenchment of employees are experienced in all sectors of government and the private sector. The South African government took a serious stance in their approach towards job creation by introducing trainings that are supposedly aimed at creating job opportunities for all citizens across the country with special attention to women and the youths. The aim of my study is to investigate whether the training offered during EPWP projects contribute to youth employability. As the researcher I therefore came up with the following questions;  What are the effects of training offered in the Expanded Public Works Programme on youth employability at Senwamokgope Township? To answer this question adequately I added sub questions. These are listed below;  How many youths according to gender are offered training?  What kind of training is been offered to youths in Expanded Public Works Programme?  How is the training contributing to employability of youths?  What are the characteristics of the youths participating in the Expanded Public Works Programme? ii This study seeks to answer the questions mentioned above. It is an attempt to determine the effects that are brought about by the intervention strategies that government engages its people in order to create work opportunities and jobs. If the effectiveness of the training can be seen it will subsequently serve the purpose of encouraging youth participation in other programmes. Data was collected through interviews. The training provider, 1 contractor, 8 youths and one official from Greater Letaba Municipality were interviewed. The data collected was then analyzed and a detailed report was drawn up with recommendations. The data was analysed using a data matrix and in conclusion the following findings were made.  All youths who went through the training are glad that they were trained .They have achieved skills which they did not have before the training.  The study has revealed that the municipality spends more money in wages on youths according to the labour force.  The effort by government through the municipality in EPWP has brought an increased number of youths in to the work environment and this has reduced the number of idle youths.  This initiative of the government has aroused confidence in the youth and they begin to aspire for greater things.  In the past years the Greater Letaba Municipality has been able to create jobs in Senwamokgope Township where youths benefitted in large numbers

The study investigates the extent of distributional impacts of labour-intensive road projects using a geographical approach. The aim is to evaluate infrastructural effectiveness. The central premise is that the interface between road investment and economic development has broad implications that are beyond transportation’s basic purpose of providing access and mobility. Communities are motivated by the outcomes and impacts of road infrastructure development in improving the productiveness of the economy, in line with socio-economic development and other multiplying effects. The objective was to describe the nature and delivery mechanisms of labourintensive road projects, evaluate the impact thereof on the project participants and their communities and explore the constraints and challenges experienced by these initiatives. The impact of the Gundo Lashu programme was measured, based on an assessment of programme outputs, outcomes and impacts, to determine whether the project had the desired effects on individual participants and their households. A matched control case study design, using a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches was adopted. The study found that the Gundo Lashu programme had achieved the expected outputs in terms of the total number of jobs created, total road length constructed and maintained. However, the communities’ socioeconomic outcomes and the impacts of the programme on poverty and sustainable livelihoods were mixed. These conclusions re-affirm the notion that the development of rural road infrastructure alone by labour-intensive construction methods, is not sufficient in tackling poverty. While government is focusing on addressing unemployment and skills development through labourintensive road construction programmes, there is a need to ensure proper integration of government services to make a significant impact. Huge deficiencies exist in the inter-linkages between the programme planning process and the municipal planning system and that there are a number of management and planning, structural and functional, human resources and funding barriers to proper planning, implementation and monitoring of projects within the Gundo Lashu programme. Various challenges and barriers emanates from lack of coordination, political interferences and lack of strategic direction. Key recommendations include comprehensive road planning, better project targeting mechanisms, development of guidelines for future maintenance, skills training and capacity development, and resultsbased monitoring. / Geography / D. Phil. (Geography)

The study investigates the extent of distributional impacts of labour-intensive road projects using a geographical approach. The aim is to evaluate infrastructural effectiveness. The central premise is that the interface between road investment and economic development has broad implications that are beyond transportation’s basic purpose of providing access and mobility. Communities are motivated by the outcomes and impacts of road infrastructure development in improving the productiveness of the economy, in line with socio-economic development and other multiplying effects. The objective was to describe the nature and delivery mechanisms of labourintensive road projects, evaluate the impact thereof on the project participants and their communities and explore the constraints and challenges experienced by these initiatives. The impact of the Gundo Lashu programme was measured, based on an assessment of programme outputs, outcomes and impacts, to determine whether the project had the desired effects on individual participants and their households. A matched control case study design, using a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches was adopted. The study found that the Gundo Lashu programme had achieved the expected outputs in terms of the total number of jobs created, total road length constructed and maintained. However, the communities’ socioeconomic outcomes and the impacts of the programme on poverty and sustainable livelihoods were mixed. These conclusions re-affirm the notion that the development of rural road infrastructure alone by labour-intensive construction methods, is not sufficient in tackling poverty. While government is focusing on addressing unemployment and skills development through labourintensive road construction programmes, there is a need to ensure proper integration of government services to make a significant impact. Huge deficiencies exist in the inter-linkages between the programme planning process and the municipal planning system and that there are a number of management and planning, structural and functional, human resources and funding barriers to proper planning, implementation and monitoring of projects within the Gundo Lashu programme. Various challenges and barriers emanates from lack of coordination, political interferences and lack of strategic direction. Key recommendations include comprehensive road planning, better project targeting mechanisms, development of guidelines for future maintenance, skills training and capacity development, and resultsbased monitoring. / Geography / D. Phil. (Geography)

The Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) is a government programme targeted at unemployed individuals. Public entities at the national, provincial and municipal level implement the EPWP. The City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (CTMM) is one of the entities implementing the EPWP at the local level. This study investigated the implementation of the EPWP within the CTMM with a view to understand the current implementation approach. The CTMM has been unable to achieve their EPWP annual targets since 2009. The CTMM experienced the lack of attaining targets mainly in relation to persons with disabilities (2%), and indigents (50%). Other challenges include the lack of training EPWP participants in specialized skills; the unsustainable nature of the EPWP projects; and un-approval of the draft EPWP policy. This study proposes interventions with regard to the coordination of the EPWP, improved monitoring of projects, training, indigent criteria, and approval of the EPWP policy within the CTMM. / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)

The Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) is a government programme targeted at unemployed individuals. Public entities at the national, provincial and municipal level implement the EPWP. The City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (CTMM) is one of the entities implementing the EPWP at the local level. This study investigated the implementation of the EPWP within the CTMM with a view to understand the current implementation approach. The CTMM has been unable to achieve their EPWP annual targets since 2009. The CTMM experienced the lack of attaining targets mainly in relation to persons with disabilities (2%), and indigents (50%). Other challenges include the lack of training EPWP participants in specialized skills; the unsustainable nature of the EPWP projects; and un-approval of the draft EPWP policy. This study proposes interventions with regard to the coordination of the EPWP, improved monitoring of projects, training, indigent criteria, and approval of the EPWP policy within the CTMM. / Development Studies / M. A. (Development Studies)