Bernice Swarts, the Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Durban — Through the Environmental Programmes Branch, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment intends to focus on the creation of work opportunities through the implementation of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) projects.
Deputy Minister of the department Bernice Swarts aims to empower youth in her ministry. She was speaking at the inaugural budget vote 32 of the 7th administration in the Good Hope Chamber on Monday.
In her speech, Swarts said that 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 and that the work opportunities created benefited 60% women and 58% youth, with 1% on persons with disabilities.
Swarts stated that the 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. Furthermore, the department met its target for full time equivalents (FTEs), meaning that it was able to improve the duration of employment noting that EPWP participants are paid in accordance with the number of days worked,” she 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.”
She said that one of their entities, SANParks, 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, employing 5 150 FTEs, 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.
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