- Return of EPWP Participants to Municipality: The Matatiele Local Municipality celebrated the successful completion of Peace Officer training by 12 EPWP participants at Nelson Mandela Traffic College, marking a significant milestone in their community development efforts.
- Focus on Youth Development and Employment Opportunities: The municipality emphasizes its commitment to investing in youth development and increasing employment opportunities, especially for young women, through programs like EPWP.
- Success Stories of Graduates: Graduates such as Andiswa Sontangane and Mandisa Mvovo shared how EPWP transformed their lives; Mvovo, once unemployed for eight years, secured a permanent position as a traffic warden.
The Matatiele Local Municipality has celebrated the return of 12 Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) participants who completed Peace Officer training at the Nelson Mandela Traffic College.
The milestone reflects the municipality’s ongoing efforts to invest in youth development and open up employment opportunities particularly for young women.
Graduates such as Andiswa Sontangane and Mandisa Mvovo shared how the programme changed their lives. Mvovo, who had been unemployed for eight years, is now permanently employed as a traffic warden thanks to the experience and training gained through EPWP.
Mayor Patrick Stuurman dismissed criticism that EPWP exploits workers, stating that it is a launchpad to meaningful careers. He stated several success stories of former EPWP participants who are now in full-time positions within the municipality.
Stuurman reaffirmed the municipality’s commitment to empowering residents through practical training and skills-building, adding that EPWP is a tool for transformation, not exploitation.
