Thesis (MPA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The basic principles of the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) include “an integrated and sustainable programme” and “a people-driven process”. Section 2.3 of the RDP identifies the National Public Works Programme (NPWP) as a key implementation strategy of the RDP, with the primary purpose of creating jobs and providing community infrastructure, in a manner that impacts on the socio-economic conditions of the poor (ANC, 1994:1-18). The NPWP was operationalised in late 1995 as a Community Based Public Works Project (CBPWP) to carry out this broad mandate. Government was faced by numerous challenges in the form of poverty, joblessness, a shrinking economy and lack of job-related skills. The expectations were also high that after long years of struggle and suffering, an ANC-led Government would deliver a better life soon. Wittingly or unwittingly, in the face of these challenges and mounting expectations, Government rushed to deliver a better life through school feeding schemes, free health care to children under the age of six and to pregnant women and allocated about R250m to the Department of Public Works to deliver a job creation and poverty relief programme. It was this rush that saw the Government losing sight of important conditions for sustainable delivery of goods and services. The purpose of the study is to show that the Community Based Public Works Programme of the Department of Public Works, which was implemented in Groutville in 1996, failed to bring about visible change. The starting point is to create a contextual framework for the research problem and the suggested answer (Bless & Higson - Smith, 1995:37), which is established through various means in the sections that follow. The first part, the literature review, offers both conceptual and operational definitions (Bless & Higson - Smith, 1995:35-37) of key concepts or variables that form elements of the research problem and the proposed hypothesis. Methodology and research design outlines the process, procedure and instruments used to test the hypothesis. The section on data analysis gives an overview on how data on the general field of interest (Brynard & Hanekom, 1997:48-50), community development (De Beer & Swanepoel, 1998:17-28), is filtered to focus on the National Public Works Programme (NPWP) and the Community Based Public Works Programme (CBPWP) as strategies for community development , using Groutville as a case study. As part of data analysis, using the model of Brynard & Hanekom (1997:54-55) viewpoints of authors on community development are integrated in the context of the results and data obtained. Finally, the study outlines and discusses the results and recommendations. The reliability and generalizability of the findings is based on consistence between the findings of this particular study and the CASE/ILO Report, on the one hand, and the empirical evidence as provided by grassroots structures and as observed by the researcher. The study finds that while the project succeeded in targeting women and youth, employment opportunities could not be sustained. In addition there is no evidence of training and the ability of employees to use skills gained during the life of the project to earn a decent living. Finally, the study also finds that one of the major failures of the CBPWP, in addition to a lack of sustainability, was that it was not co-ordinated and integrated with other local development initiatives such as the Masakhane Campaign, the Clean and Green Campaign and the Local Economic Development Plan. The study concludes by suggesting recommendations, which include: - • The need to redefine sustainability in a way that does not emphasize the quality and life span of infrastructure but prioritizes the beneficiaries’ ability to use the infrastructure and skills gained to engage in productive economic activities; • Recognize local leadership and built capacity before a project is introduced; • Focus, as part of capacity building, on institutional development and organizational development for local communities; • Communicate and seek consensus on the goals and intended objectives of the programme; • Link national programmes with local economic development plans and initiatives and education and training for life-long employment. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die basiese beginsels van die Heropbou en Ontwikkelingsprogram (HOP) sluit ‘n geïntegreerde volhoubare program en ‘n gemeenskapsgeïnspireerde proses in. Die Nasionale Openbare Werke Program (NOWP) is as ‘n sleutel implementeringstrategie geïdentifiseer in klousule 2.3 van die HOP met die primêre doel om werkverskaffing en die voorsiening van infrastruktuur aan die gemeenskap te lewer. Die primêre doel is om ‘n impak te lewer op die sosio-ekonomiese toestand van die hulpbehoewende persoon. (ANC, 1994:1-18). Die NOWP is in 1995 as ‘n Gemeenskapsgebaseerde Openbare Werke Program in werking gestel om hierdie breë mandaat uit te voer. Die Staat was gekonfronteer met verskeie uitdagings wat onder andere armoede, werkloosheid, ‘n krimpende ekonomie en die gebrek aan toepaslike werksgeoriënteerde vaardighede ingesluit het. Hoë verwagtinge is van die ANC regering gekoester om na die lang jare van stryd en lyding ‘n beter lewe vir almal te verseker. Wetende of onwetende, in die aangesig van al hierdie uitdagings en verwagtinge, het die Staat beleid bepaal wat daarop gemik was om dienstelewering te versnel ten einde ‘n beter lewe te waarborg. Hierdie beleid het voedingskemas by skole en gratis gesondheidsorg aan kinders onder die ouderdom van ses jaar en verwagtende vroue verskaf. Daar is ook ‘n bedrag van R250 miljoen bewillig aan die Departement van Openbare Werke om ‘n armoedeverligting en werkverskaffingsprogram daar te stel. Dit was as gevolg van hierdie druk waaronder die Staat verkeer het, dat die belangrike vereistes vir volhoubare lewering van goedere en dienste uit die oog verloor is. Die doel van hierdie studie is om te bewys dat die Gemeenskapsgebaseerde Openbare Werke Program, soos onder andere geïmplementeer in Groutville in 1996, nie daarin geslaag het om enige merkbare veranderinge teweeg te bring nie. Die aanvangspunt vir hierdie studie is om ‘n kontekstuele raamwerk vir die navorsingsprobleem daar te stel, met toepaslike moontlike oplossings, (Bless & Higson - Smith, 1995:37), wat geskep is deur verskeie middele te ondersoek in die gedeeltes wat volg. Die eerste gedeelte, naamlik die literatuurstudie, verskaf konseptuele en algemene gebruiksdefinisies (Bless & Higson - Smith, 1995:35-37) van sleutelkonsepte of veranderlikes wat die kritiese elemente van die navorsingsprobleem en die voorgestelde hipotese vorm. Die metodiek en navorsingsontwerp-raamwerk omskryf die proses, prosedure en instrumente wat gebruik is om die hipotese te toets. Die gedeelte oor data-analise gee ‘n oorsig oor hoe die data wat betrekking het op die algemene veld van belangstelling (Brynard & Hanekom, 1997:48- 50), naamlik gemeenskapsontwikkeling (De Beer & Swanepoel, 1998:17-28) gefiltreer is om te fokus op die Nasionale Openbare Werke Program en die Gemeenskapsgebaseerde Openbare Werke Program wat as strategieë vir gemeenskapsontwikkeling in die Groutville gevallestudie gebruik is. As deel van die data-analise is die Bryard & Hanekom (1997:54- 55) model gebruik om verskillende standpunte van verskeie skrywers aangaande gemeenskapsontwikkeling te integreer met die resultate en die inligting wat ingesamel is. Die laaste afdeling bespreek die bevindinge en maak aanbevelings. Bevindinge in hierdie studie gemaak kan as algemeen betroubaar beskou word. Die stelling word gebaseer op die feit dat ‘n konsekwente ooreenstemming telkemale verkry is tussen die bevindinge van die spesifieke studie soos vervat in die CASE/ILO - verslag, en die empiriese bewyslewering, soos voorsien deur voetsoolvlak gemeenskapstrukture en soos waargeneem deur die navorser. Bevindinge van die studie sluit die volgende in; die Groutville projek het daarin geslaag om vroue en die jeug te betrek, maar dit kon nie daarin slaag om volhoubare werkverskaffing te verskaf nie. Daar kon ook geen bewys gevind word dat opleiding plaasgevind het nie, en die werknemers wat vaardighede aangeleer het gedurende die verloop van die projek, kon nie hul vermoë bewys om hierdie vaardighede sodanig aan te wend om ‘n ordentlike bestaan te voer nie. Ten slotte het die studie bevind dat een van die hoof tekortkominge van die GBOWP was, tesame met die gebrek aan volhoubaarheid van die program, die gebrek aan ko-ordinasie en integrering met ander plaaslike ontwikkelingsinisiatiewe, soos onder andere die Masakhane projek, die “Clean and Green” projek en die plaaslike ekonomiese ontwikkelingsplan. Die laaste gedeelte van die studie stel die volgende aanbevelings voor: • Om volhoubaarheid op plaaslike vlak so te definieër dat die klem nie geplaas word op die lewensverwagting van infrastruktuur nie, maar dat voorkeur eerder verleen word aan die vermoë van die gemeenskap om hierdie infrastruktuur te gebruik, en die vaardighede wat aangeleer is in die proses, om betrokke te raak in produktiewe volhoubare ekonomiese aktiwiteite; • Om plaaslike leierskap te erken, en om toepaslike bekwaamhede op te bou, voordat ‘n projek aangebied en geïmplementeer word; • As deel van die opbou van bekwaamhede, moet klem geplaas word op institusionele en organisatoriese ontwikkeling van plaaslike gemeenskappe; • Eenstemmigheid moet verkry word rakende die doelwitte van die program; • Skakel nasionale programme in by plaaslike ekonomiese ontwikkelingsplanne en inisiatiewe, en verseker opvoeding en opleiding vir lewenslange indiensneming.

Most developing countries are faced with high levels of unemployment, poverty, underemployment and inadequate infrastructure. The causes of poverty and unemployment in South Africa are manifold and complex. South Africa is one of the developmental states which gained its independence in 1994. There is a high rate of unemployment, poverty, unskilled workforce, inequality and low quality service delivery in South Africa (SA). Communities across provinces are unhappy about the above mentioned issues and have, over the years, expressed their dissatisfaction through picketing, demonstrations and strikes. SA, as a developmental state, has to balance economic growth and social development. Post 1994, the African National Congress (ANC)-led government promised to address the triple challenges facing the SA economy, namely poverty, unemployment and inequality. The study pursues to identify and describe factors that necessitated the EPWP in SA. It further investigates the performance of provinces during the implementation of the EPWP inorder to understand the current implementation approach. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to obtain data. Published figures from the Department of Public Works (DPW) reports and on the websites of relevant organisations were analysed. The objective was to identify small-medium-micro enterprises (SMMEs) that were created, trainings supported, and work opportunities (WOs) as well as full time equivalents (FTEs) that were created. A questionnaire was disseminated to three officials per four sectors, totaling (twelve) across four provinces namely Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng and North West. The officials were from the EPWP implementing bodies and coordinating departments. The questionnaire sought information on how EPWP projects were implemented and reported in the two phases. The implementing bodies were expected to specify their roles, targets and work opportunities that they hoped to create. The correct sampling method and size were chosen based on the approved research proposal and its intention. Challenges experienced by the coordinating bodies, implementing bodies and data managers during the implementation of the EPWP were tabulated. Recommendations and remedial actions to identified challenges were also highlighted. This study proposes interventions with regard to the coordination of the EPWP, training, improved monitoring of projects, political buy-in and allocation of budget that will improve the daily wage rate. / Public Administration / D. Admin. (Public Administration)

The public sector is the biggest consumer of construction works in South Africa. Public sector is known for late payments to its service providers. This led to the study’s problem statement that stipulates that, the construction industry; particularly emerging contractors generally experience late payments from clients and employers. This is due to the fact that emerging contractors are vulnerable to failing as these contractors have limited financial resources and experience. The primary objective of the study was to develop a better understanding of the implications of late payments by the government on emerging construction contractors. The study therefore investigated the experiences of emerging construction contractors in the Eastern Cape. The secondary objectives of the study were: to identify the reasons for late payments by the public sector; determine the payment norms applicable to, and expectations of emerging construction contractors; establish construction contractors’ experiences with government payment methods; and to examine the implications of late payment on emerging contractors and their businesses. The study was conducted within a qualitative research paradigm. The participants were identified through non-probability snowball sampling. The sample consisted of five emerging construction contractors mainly from the Civil Engineering and General Building sectors in the Eastern Cape. The data was collected using semi-structured interviewing and was analysed using Tesch’s qualitative analysis explained by Hesse-Biber & Leavy (2011:201). The key results of the empirical study show that late payments have incapacitating effects on the development of emerging contractors. The conclusion reached from the empirical study includes recommendation that construction industry stakeholders form payment legislation aimed at curbing the delay of payments.

South Africa is characterised by inequitable growth and development, a high level of poverty, increasing demands and limited resources and the challenge of integration. The need for improved standards of living and access to better infrastructure which are seen as crucial issues in addressing poverty have necessitated the introduction of programmes that aim to alleviate poverty. The South African democratic government has, since 1994, implemented various programmes in an attempt to improve the quality of lives of its citizens through policy interventions. The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is one of the many programmes offered by the National Government to provide poverty and income relief through temporary work for the unemployed to carry out socially useful activities. The study is descriptive in nature. The researcher seeks to gain insight into the effectiveness of the EPWP as poverty alleviation strategy in the Oudtshoorn Municipal area. The researcher needs to understand the impact it has made on the beneficiaries focussing on Bongolethu and Bridgton as critically distressed settlements. The researcher used, inter alia, policy documents, circular letters, accredited journal articles, newspaper reports, minutes of the Oudtshoorn Municipal Council meetings as sources of data collection. The findings reveal that there are short term poverty alleviation initiatives in Oudtshoorn. The study also revealed that the problem of poverty is still a challenge in the Oudtshoorn Municipal Area and a review of the current policies is necessary.

The study aimed at analysis the South African government’s attempt to reduce poverty through alleviation and reduction of unemployment. The study analyses this using Ngqushwa Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape. The introduction of labour intensive projects of government in infrastructural development, under auspices of the Department of Public Works, has brought a relief in addressing unemployment and poverty in the country. While the provision of these short-term based jobs is life-saving, the question is whether or not these projects (EPWP) will provide a sustainable solution to unemployment and poverty with the skills and information they provide to the employees. To achieve this aim the study used both qualitative and quantitative research methodology. First, a literature review on the Expanded Public Works Programme was done. Secondly, policy review on poverty and conservation was done. A small sample size of sixteen people was selected using purposive sampling, targeting ten beneficiaries of EPWP, three Municipal managers and three Departmental managers that were involved in EPWP. Firstly, I wanted to know how many people participated in the EPWP initiatives in the Amathole District Municipality between 2008 and 2012. Secondly, what training was provided to people that were temporarily employed on the EPWP projects and what recruitment tools were used to recruit EPWP employees. Thirdly, to find out how many were able to find permanent employment after the EPWP projects in Amathole District Municipality communities were completed. Fourthly, has the EPWP benefited the poorest of the targeted areas and redressing racial imbalances? It is clear that EPWP is appreciated by some of the beneficiaries who do not have better school qualifications as they make significant, short-term contribution to their livelihoods and, than those who have better qualifications especially the youth, who claimed that this programme is partly wasting their time as they were looking for permanent jobs, and in South Africa age restriction is one of the problems that the people were facing when looking for a job. The study proposes that the government should make a physical relief on poverty and employment reduction by making this programme a permanent job.

Community-based projects are established in most of the communities as a strategy to create jobs and alleviate poverty. In the area under investigation community-based projects were established by members of communities but some of them failed and others are not sustainable in economic terms. This study investigated the reasons for failure of community-based projects at Folovhodwe area. The objectives of the study were to determine the reasons for failure of community-based projects, to provide community development officials with a guideline of the role they must play in community projects and to provide strategies for the improvement and future development of community-based projects. The study was both qualitative and quantitative. Questionnaires and interviews were employed to collect information. The study revealed that lack of funds, poor project management, poor management of funds, lack of commitment and motivation, low level of education of project members, lack of youth involvement in community-based projects, lack of monitoring and evaluation by government officials and community leaders, lack of training and unavailability of workshops for project members and lack of government involvement in addressing project challenges were identified as the reasons for failure of community-based projects. / Business Management / M.Tech. (Business Administration)

MAdmin / Department of Public and Development Administration / This study focused on critical analysis of job creation strategies in the Makhado Local Municipality (MLM). Even though there are policies and strategies adopted by Local Economic Development (LED) in order to speed up the process of job creation, there are still many unemployed people with no potential job prospects in the area. There are quite a number of factors working against job creation which range from geographic and demographic dispositions, availability of industries within the area, and limited infrastructure that can help to fast track job creation. The researcher used descriptive research design for this study. The researcher followed a mixed methods approach in which quantitative and qualitative research approaches were used. The reason for using a mixed methods approach was to integrate both qualitative and quantitative research methods to enable them to complement each other, thereby adding value to the findings. The researcher used non-probability sampling and its sub-type purposive sampling to select the respondents for this study. Purposive sampling method provides a wide range of non-probability sampling techniques for the researcher to draw on. Data collection instruments which were used were interview questions and questionnaires. Statistical analysis and thematic analysis were used to analyse the data. The researcher followed the research ethics before conducting study. The following were the major findings of the study: • The study findings revealed that municipality fails to inform members of the public with regard to job creation strategies in any process of development. • The research study findings revealed that the municipalities should create positions instead of internships without getting employment after completion. • The study findings revealed that public participation encourages community members to be actively involved in the municipality projects and helps to create good relationship between communities and the municipality to improve basic service delivery. The following are the recommendations of the study: • The research study revealed that good working relationship between municipal officials and community members should be encouraged as it is vital in enhancing the provision of service in the communities. • The study recommended that the municipalities should create positions which are permanent. • The researcher recommends that openness between community structures and the municipality should be encouraged in order to bring development in the municipality. / NRF

Community-based projects are established in most of the communities as a strategy to create jobs and alleviate poverty. In the area under investigation community-based projects were established by members of communities but some of them failed and others are not sustainable in economic terms. This study investigated the reasons for failure of community-based projects at Folovhodwe area. The objectives of the study were to determine the reasons for failure of community-based projects, to provide community development officials with a guideline of the role they must play in community projects and to provide strategies for the improvement and future development of community-based projects. The study was both qualitative and quantitative. Questionnaires and interviews were employed to collect information. The study revealed that lack of funds, poor project management, poor management of funds, lack of commitment and motivation, low level of education of project members, lack of youth involvement in community-based projects, lack of monitoring and evaluation by government officials and community leaders, lack of training and unavailability of workshops for project members and lack of government involvement in addressing project challenges were identified as the reasons for failure of community-based projects. / Business Management / M.Tech. (Business Administration)

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / Bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis evaluated the theory behind the South African Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) during its first phase from 2004-2009. The research examined how sound the EPWP theory was which explains the logic that links programme objectives and programme activities and resources. The data for this study comprised of government departmental documents on the EPWP, the context of the EPWP and the policies that informed it. Evaluation of the EPWP theory revealed that the programme was based on a sound theory if focusing solely on projected objectives, activities and resources. However, the evaluation also revealed deficiencies in the programme theory with regard to the EPWP reaching its larger policy goals. The theory construction and evaluation framework by Rossi, Freeman and Lipsey (2004) is an evaluation tool that was used to evaluate the EPWP. More theory based approach evaluations would add value to the lack in theory based programme evaluations in South Africa. In brief, the problem of unemployment is structural in South Africa and requires long term solutions. The policies and policy programmes should thus be designed with permanent employment measures in mind. However, employment through one of the largest policy programmes in South Africa, the EPWP, was short term. It is therefore recommended that this method of programme evaluation be utilised in more studies prior to implementation of a programme, because if the logic behind a programme is sound, its chances to succeed could be improved. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis evalueer die teorie agter die Suid-Afrikaanse Uitgebreide Openbare Werke Program (UPWP) tydens die eerste fase van 2004-2009. Die navorsing ondersoek hoe grondig die teorie die logika tussen program doelwitte en program-aktiwiteite en hulpbronne verduidelik. Die data vir hierdie studie bestaan uit departementele dokumente oor die konteks van die UPWP en die beleid wat die program ingelig het. Evaluering van die UPWP-teorie het aan die lig gebring dat die program gebaseer is op 'n grondige teorie, met die fokus uitsluitlik op geprojekteerde doelwitte, aktiwiteite en hulpbronne. Die evaluering van die UPWP-teorie het ook die gebrek met betrekking tot die bereik van groter beleidsdoelwitte aan die lig gebring. Die teorie konstruksie-en evalueringsraamwerk deur Rossi, Freeman en Lipsey (2004) is 'n evaluering instrument wat gebruik was om die UPWP te evalueer. Meer teoreties-gebaseerde evaluerings sal waarde toevoeg tot die gebrek van teorie-gebaseerde program evaluering in Suid Afrika. Ter opsomming, werkloosheid is n strukturele probleem in Suid Afrika en vereis langtermyn oplossings. Die beleide en die beleid programme moet dus ontwerp word met permanente indiensneming geleenthede in gedagte. Indiensneming deur een van die grootste programme in Suid-Afrika, die UPWP bied egter kort termyn indiensneming. Dit word dus aanbeveel dat die teorie-gebaseerde benadering van programevaluering in meer studies gebruik word voor die implementering van 'n program, want as die logika agter 'n program grondig is, is die kanse van sukses verhoog.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / Unemployment and poverty are two key issues that South Africa continues to struggle with. The Expanded Public Works Programme was introduced by Government to not only address these but to half unemployment by 2014. This study assesses the Expanded Public Works Programme’s performance in terms of creating jobs within the Infrastructure Sector in the Western Cape. Since the jobs being created by the Expanded Public Work Programme are only temporary, the study explores what, if any, additional support or training is provided to beneficiaries to aid their exit into long term employment. The findings reveal that unfortunately job creation targets are not being met. Furthermore the training provided to beneficiaries are inadequate to impact their transition into the market. Consequently beneficiaries are left unemployed yet again. Some barriers that the programme encounters include: inefficient institutional arrangements caused by complex and intergovernmental structures, lack of commitment by role-players to implement labour intensive construction methods which are fundamental to the achievement of creating jobs in the infrastructure sector and the lack of delegated authorities driving the objectives of the programme.