Upington: Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson will on Thursday launch the next leg of his Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) listening tour in Upington in the Northern Cape. Following the EPWP Listening Tour, the Minister will conduct an oversight visit to the construction site of a new Magistrate’s Court in Keimoes, requested by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
According to South African Government News Agency, the Minister will be accompanied by the Northern Cape Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Public Works, Fufe Makatong, and the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality Mayor, Maryna Basson. The nationwide listening tour aims to engage with communities about their experiences with the EPWP, highlighting issues encountered within the program.
The insights gathered from the tour are intended to inform the Minister’s vision for a reimagined EPWP that aims for long-term socio-economic empowerment within communities. The department emphasized that this initiative will contribute significantly to reshaping the program to better serve the needs of the people. Through similar engagements planned nationwide in the coming months, the Minister hopes to foster an inclusive dialogue that will ultimately benefit the EPWP’s future development.