The EPWP Women-at-Work Skills Development Project

Cape Town, South Africa
About the city. South African society remains a pluralist one with huge cultural diversities, and there are many challenges ahead. Furthermore, in modern-day South Africa women are faced with a wide range of issues such as the high crime rate, domestic violence, child abuse, HIV/AIDS, poverty, poor local government delivery and unemployment. Motherhood is still central to most women’s lives across the board and women’s role in family life is still the basis of a morally sound, orderly society.

Goal

The concept for this project is based on transitioning women-only road repair teams into a male-dominated environment through a training and change management support programme. The ultimate aim of the project is to ensure that all 116 beneficiaries attend and participate in accredited and non-accredited training for its duration.

Implementation period. The project started in July 2019. It has entered its final year 2021/2022.

Fact

Women are generally under-represented in several key areas of the transport sector.

Solutions

The project is a part of The Women-at-Work Programme. Moreover, the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is one of the government’s programmes aimed at alleviating poverty and reducing unemployment. The EPWP Women-at-Work skills development project is considered a strategic initiative as it will enable the City to deliver on its mandate of integrated transport and urban development, specifically in the area of safe road infrastructure and maintenance.

Key training opportunities include:

• Foundational/occupational training such as literacy, Matric, learner/driver’s licence, Council driver’s licence, Code 14 licence, Supervisor (as required).
• Formal advanced tactical training (Certification) about road repairs, stormwater cleaning, footway repairs and road markings.
• Change Management workshops/awareness training about values, diversity, sexual harassment, social, family, health.
• Life skills training, including financial and personal.
• Formal generic training about communication, interpersonal, teamwork, supervisory interviewing.
• Entrepreneurial training including administration, project management, financial management, people management and business start-up.

Speaking about The Women-at-Work Programme, one of the main objectives is to invest in public and community works programmes that support skill development and economic inclusion – empowering women with skills while earning an income. The programme goes a  long way in helping them support their families, as some are single parents and breadwinners in their homes. As an inclusive city, the programme also advances diversity and commitment to dedicate resources and efforts to transformation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvQTX-KjuXA

Team

The City of Cape Town, Mayoral Committee for Urban Management, the City’s Roads Infrastructure Management Depots (RIMD).

Timeline

‘What excites me most, is that the women will at the end of this programme, be well equipped to either apply for permanent positions or start their own businesses and work directly with the City. The success of this programme has provided the opportunity to motivate for a further three-year project,’  said Alderman Twigg, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Management.

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