The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:
a) In the 2022/23 financial year, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) branch has supported a total of 271 small-, medium- and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) or enterprises. Below is a breakdown of the type of the enterprises supported:
b) The SMMEs supported through the EPWP Branch are located throughout the country. Below is a table showing the provincial breakdown:
Table 1: Provincial breakdown of SMMEs supported in 2022/23 financial year
Province |
Number of Enterprises Supported |
Eastern Cape |
49 |
Free State |
10 |
Gauteng |
0 |
KwaZulu-Natal |
31 |
Limpopo |
63 |
Mpumalanga |
14 |
Northern Cape |
20 |
North West |
63 |
Western Cape |
21 |
Grand Total |
271 |
c) The aim of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Enterprise Development programme is to support enterprises from Programmes implemented by the EPWP sectors. Through Enterprise Development, EPWP participants are supported in their quest (desire or drive) to start and operate businesses so as to achieve sustainable livelihoods. The support offered in Enterprise Development varies from formation of enterprises to training of enterprises in business principles. Additionally, other support measures offered include but is not limited to:
For contractors supported in the Vuk’uphile Programme, the support offered entailed facilitation of allocation of training projects for development of contractors.