With over 80 000 work opportunities created, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment will continue to focus on the creation of work opportunities through the implementation of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in carrying out its mandate.

‘Through a range of EPWP projects implemented by the department, the DFFE exceeded its 2023/24 EPWP target of creating 42 302 work opportunities, as the department created a total of 80 918 work opportunities,’ said Deputy Minister Bernice Swarts.

Speaking at the Budget Vote of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the first in the seventh administration for the department, the Deputy Minister said these work opportunities benefited 60% women, 58% youth and 1% of persons with disabilities.

‘Youth employment included the employment of graduates, enabling them to gain critical experience in line with section 24 of the Constitution.

“It is encouraging that some of these graduates were absorbed into the municipalities and other
host organisations.’

The department met its target for full time equivalents (FTEs), meaning that it was able to improve the duration of employment as EPWP participants are paid in accordance with the number of days worked.

Swarts said the implementation of the Municipal Greening and Cleaning Programme through a partnership model with the municipalities created the most work opportunities.

‘The partnership had the department paying for the EPWP stipends and providing the primary project management responsibilities. The municipalities provided personal protective equipment (PPE), tools of trade and medical screening.

‘The Municipal Greening and Cleaning Programme contributed to the waste management service delivery through daily cleaning-up and clearing of illegal hotspots,’ she said.

In this financial year, the department has prioritised the creation of 31 075 EPWP work opportunities and 22 538 full time equivalents through the implementation of the Working for Water, Working on Fire and Working for Wetl
ands and the Municipal Greening and Cleaning programmes.

‘SANParks – one of our entities – also participates in the DFFE funded EPWP which is aimed at creating jobs targeting women, youth and people with disabilities.

‘Under this programme, SANParks exceeded all targets in the previous financial year, having employed 5 150 full-time equivalents, employing 7 098 youth, 6 483 women and 198 people with disabilities.

‘Over the medium term, under this programme, SANParks aims to create over 13 860 jobs targeting women, youth and people with disabilities, mostly from neighbouring communities to national parks.’

The department is implementing the National Greening Programme, which aims to coordinate national, provincial and local government initiatives and those of civil society to plant, care and maintain trees and other vegetation in urban and rural settlement areas.

‘An estimated 1 177 390 trees were planted through DFFE initiatives and other stakeholders in the 2023/24 financial year. This resulted in the c
reation of 4062 work opportunities as it is implemented through the EPWP,’ said Swarts.

Source: South African Government News Agency