KABOKWENI – To prove and reaffirms government’s commitment to create much needed employment opportunities through labour intensive methods, the Mbomela local municipality recently launched the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), in which

Speaking during this launch, attended by beneficiaries, Cllr Cathy Dlamini, the executive mayor of this giant municipality, which runs on a budget allocation of over R1 billion per year, said the launch marks an importance of the manner in which Mbombela commits itself to create jobs to its citizen in order to fight poverty and unemployment.

“By celebrating the official launch of EPWP Operation, Hlobisa Imbombela Project, we the municipality confirms our level of commitment to improve service delivery in our communities and strive to change the lives of the poor for better.

The national department of Public Works in collaboration with other government sectors have gone all out to assist the other spheres of government such as municipalities to understand the actual implementation of the expanded public works programme.

“It should be noted that Mbombela is expected to report the EPWP projects to the National Department of Public Works on monthly basis. An appeal is being made to all EPWP beneficiaries to be the Mbombela Ambassadors when it comes to the effective implementation of the programme. This means that make an impact wherever you work so that when we are assessed, the custodian of the programme proudly confirm that Mbombela is doing the right thing,” said Dlamini.

The main objectives of this programme are to alleviate poverty through job creation programmes by employing men and women, the youth, and people with disabilities and create platform for the unskilled to earn a living.

“In closing I would like to appeal to the Municipal Manager and his Senior Management to support the EPWP programme.”