South Africa’s Expanded Public Works Programme are taking services to the people and, in doing so, they are changing lives and helping to create a better future, writes Sandy Godlwana.

• Behind regularly issued statistics on the government’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) are people whose lives are slowly being rebuilt through opportunities created by the programme.
• During the 2024/25 period, the Department of Social Development recorded 194 338 work opportunities under the EPWP.
• Participants in the social sector component of the programme have become a crucial part of expanding social service delivery and creating community assets across the country.

Every job carries a story, a story of hope, of someone finding purpose, of a parent putting food on the table, or of a young person gaining their first real work experience. Behind the numbers and reports are people whose lives are slowly being rebuilt through opportunities created by the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

At its heart, the programme is not just about employment. It is about restoring dignity, building confidence, and giving people a chance to contribute meaningfully to their communities. Through this programme, the government continues to open doors for those who have long been standing on the margins of the economy.

The Department of Social Development continues to make significant strides in strengthening accountability, stabilising the department and improving service delivery.

Expanded Public Works Programme participants provide home-based care and social support in communities across South Africa, restoring dignity and creating pathways into long-term work.

During the 2024/25 period, the Department of Social Development recorded 194 338 work opportunities under the EPWP.

The department leads the social sector of the programme, working closely with other departments such as Health, Education, Community Safety, and Sports and Recreation. Together, they create work opportunities that primarily target youth and women, groups that are often hardest hit by unemployment.

The EPWP involves creating temporary work opportunities for the unemployed through public sector expenditure. Participants receive a stipend in return for work undertaken and are also exposed to training programmes that enhance their chances of securing permanent jobs or starting their own business ventures.

“It is about restoring dignity, building confidence, and giving people a chance to contribute meaningfully to their communities.”

Over time, the social sector component of the programme has grown from a small initiative into a large and complex programme that requires structured institutional support. Participants have become a crucial part of expanding social service delivery and creating community assets across the country.

Advocate Samuel Maifadi, who is responsible for special projects and innovation at the Department of Social Development, explains that the EPWP began as a modest initiative but has evolved into one of the impactful community development instruments in South Africa.

“The social sector of the programme started as a small project, but it has grown into a major programme with broader targets and more complex institutional arrangements,” he says. “This growth has called for a more adequate institutional response because participants have become central to the delivery of social services and the creation of community assets in areas where projects are implemented.”

He further highlights that in the social sector, EPWP participants contribute to several key areas, including home and community-based care, early childhood development, victim empowerment, community nutrition, the school assistant programme, sports and mass participation, the national school nutrition programme, and community patrols. “These roles are crucial in extending the reach and quality of public services to communities that need them most,” Maifadi adds.

Contrary to the common image of EPWP workers in orange uniforms maintaining public spaces, those in the social sector work within homes, schools, and community centres. They provide care, support, and education that strengthen communities and improve quality of life.

In early childhood development centres, participants help educate and care for children while their parents are at work. They provide more than supervision. They help children grow, learn, and play in a safe and nurturing environment. Their presence supports child health, nutrition, and emotional well-being.

Through training, participants gain valuable skills that not only improve the learning environment but also prepare them for future employment or entrepreneurship.

In home and community-based care, participants visit households to assist the elderly and those who are ill. They ensure that people receive care closer to home while gaining practical caregiving experience. This service of compassion strengthens community bonds and affirms the values of empathy and humanity.

Participants in the social sector are also given access to skills programmes and learnerships that enhance their ability to deliver quality services while opening pathways to further study, formal employment, or self-employment.

Many who started as community caregivers or early childhood development assistants have progressed to become social auxiliary workers, educators, or healthcare professionals.

The strength of the EPWP lies in its ability to see potential where others might see limitations. It acts as a bridge, helping people transition from unemployment to opportunity. The skills, confidence, and sense of purpose gained through participation often have a lifelong impact.

Programmes like this remind us that progress is not only measured by economic data but also by the human impact made in ordinary lives. When someone unemployed finds meaningful work, the entire community benefits. Children receive care, older persons are supported, and families regain pride through self-reliance.

Ultimately, the EPWP is not only about providing temporary work; it is about creating pathways to a better future, one opportunity, one person, and one community at a time. It embodies the true spirit of social development, to empower people, restore dignity, and build a nation where everyone has a fair chance to thrive.

• Sandy Godlwana is the acting head of communication at the National Department of Social Development.