AFTER months and job losses, the eThekwini Municipality has revived its Public Employment Programme (PEP) which was suspended due to budget constraints.

The programme is expected to rerun this month (July).

Also read: eThekwini approves strategic land use and infrastructure plan

The programme was originally scheduled to run from December 2024 to June 2025, but was halted due to budgetary constraints, resulting in job losses for participating workers.

The renewed funding commitment brings fresh hope.

To read previous articles about the PEP and Expanded Public Works Employment Programme (EPWP), click here. 

Chairperson of the Economic Development and Planning Committee, Thembo Ntuli, said the programme was first implemented in response to the President’s call for municipalities to establish initiatives aimed at alleviating poverty. Ntuli was speaking at the municipality’s podcast called eThekwini Matters.

He said the programme was launched in 2022 with funding of R287m from the National Treasury, employing 9600 workers.

However, in the following year, the programme received reduced funding of R141m from the National Treasury.

He said the programme initially operated through a joint partnership with NGOs and NPOs.

However, it faced early-stage challenges and unforeseen obstacles which ultimately led to its suspension.

“The funding is coming from the President’s office, we do not operate it through our funding,” said Ntuli.

Also read: eThekwini Municipality outreach brings relief to the community

Proposed solutions going forward:

1. The municipality has decided to implement the programme directly through its own structures.
2. The programme will no longer be implemented through the NGOs and NPOs.

Successes of the programme:

• Improved service delivery in rural areas and informal settlements
• Provided support in departments facing staff shortages within the municipality
• Assisted with administrative duties in councillors’ offices
• Created employment opportunities for unemployed graduates
• Offered training and skills development for individuals with `no prior work experience

Budgetary constraints halt the programme

“We do not receive sufficient funding from the National Treasury, and at times, the municipality is compelled to allocate additional funds from its own budget to support the programme. Sometimes the municipality has to fork out the funds from its pockets to add to the programme,” Ntuli added.

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