This study seeks to investigate the extent to which the Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) creates jobs in East London. The researcher‘s interest in the topic was aroused after having noticed that there is cleanliness in Duncan village compared with the past. This cleanliness was as a result of the introduction of EPWP projects, where a number of people, both males and females were employed and job opportunities were created. The esearcher, as a development studies student, appreciates the intervention made by the EPWP in the area, therefore the researcher is interested to investigate the program better in order to determine the extent in which the EPWP creates jobs. The study was conducted in Duncan village, East London, in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM). The area was chosen because it is one of the most densely populated disadvantaged communities with a high rate of unemployment and poverty. The study focuses on 50 currently employed EPWP employees working in the Duncan village area. The researcher adopted a quantitative approach in order to explore and describe the extent in which EPWP projects create jobs in East London, in particular in the Duncan village area. Structured questionnaires are used to collect data from the EPWP employees. The participants‘ responses are collated in an excel spread sheet and analysed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Respondents‘ responses are analysed and discussed in terms of graphs and tables. The findings of this study reveal that there is a lack of skills development programs from projects operating in the area. This is shown by a percentage of 66% from the sampled respondents who indicate that they have acquired no skills since the inception of the project. The findings of the study also reveal that job opportunities are generated but are not adequate considering the population in the area. Income received is not enough for basic needs satisfaction as the largest percentage (82%) of them are still staying in shack dwellings and earning an income of less than R1000 per month. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the Public Works department in collaboration with all major stakeholders have to plan and organise workshops and training sessions for all EPWP employees together with their supervisors. The objective of the workshops will be to inform all employees about how the project works as well as its main objectives. This will enable employees to decide well in advance whether to take an offer or not. This will also minimise grievances from employees. Furthermore, there should be sound and effective programs in each EPWP project that address skills development. Outsourcing the skills development program could have positive consequences and employees should be motivated through certificates awarded after the project completion. There is also a need for learnership programmes as indicated by the findings because of the low levels of education and skills.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nmmu/vital:21085 |
| Date | January 2015 |
| Creators | Makhosathini, Swazi Sydney |
| Publisher | Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis, Masters, MA |
| Format | ix, 59 leaves, pdf |
| Rights | Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University |
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