The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(1) (a) The reform of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is premised on the creation of more sustainable and meaningful job opportunities that provide participants with skills that can help them to obtain permanent employment post their participation in the programme. This is something that I am committed to doing to ensure EPWP becomes a meaningful segway to a lifetime of dignity which is found through a decently paying, full time job.
(b) The following areas will be the focus of private-public partnership initiatives being looked at to secure and sustain employment opportunities within the EPWP:
Working with private training institutions to implement accredited skills programmes, which will ensure that participants are provided with skills-based training so that they receive appropriate skills for the job market in addition to the existing training provided by technical colleges and vocational training colleges.
Collaboration with the private sector companies to provide on-the-job training skills development by placing participants on formal employment opportunities, through internship and apprenticeship opportunities in different artisan programmes being implemented.
Collaborate with organisations like Harambee that have partnerships with the private sector for placement of youth trained in EPWP with job opportunities.
(2) The IDT Board of Trustees consists of twelve (12) members of which eight (8) are required for the valid exercise of the powers and discharge of the duties of the Trustees. At the time of the resignation of one of the Trustees, Ms. Rehana Parker resigned on 01 November 2024, I was advised by the then ostensible Chairperson, that there were only seven (7) trustees. It had then become apparent to me that there were a number of severe challenges that were consuming the IDT and which were overlaid by the PSA Oxygen Plant tender scandal amounting to R800 million. At the time, I endeavoured to deal with the prevailing governance challenges of the Entity and make the required interventions to bring about stability to the entity.
As per the provisions of Clause 9.2 of the IDT Deed of Trust, the Board is required to provide me with the names of suitable candidates to be appointed to fill the existing vacancies. Unfortunately, a number of vacancies had been allowed to exist by the board since October 2023, without being filled, and in violation of the Trust Deed as outlined in Clause 9.2.
Be that as it may, and in a bid to restore stability in the Board, I have appointed two (2) new Ministerial appointees who replace the previous two Ministerial appointments. It is my view, that these two individuals will thus be able to provide me with the adequate information and inputs to allow me to play my oversight role of the IDT in an effective and efficient manner.
They are as follows:
Matodzi Ratshimbilani: Holds a B Proc from the University of Limpopo (formerly the University of the North) and a Certificate in Business Management from the University of Johannesburg. With over 25 years of experience as a legal practitioner, he has worked with several state-owned entities, including Eskom, the SABC, and the IDC. He has also served on the boards of various organizations, such as the State Information Technology Agency, the Kouga Wind Farm Community Development Trust, and the Railway Safety Regulator.
Derek Naidoo: Holds an LLB from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (formerly the University of Durban-Westville) and a Certificate in Project Management. He spent a decade as Deputy City Manager at the eThekwini Municipality, where he oversaw infrastructure projects valued at R50 billion across key sectors, including water and sanitation, electricity, transport, housing, solid waste, and procurement.
Additionally, he has served as Deputy Chairperson of the Labour Relations Committee within the South African Local Government Association (SALGA).
Apart from the appointment of the two ministerial appointees, I am also requiring that the Board submit names to fill the vacancies to the Minister in line with Clause 9.2 of the IDT Deed of Trust to ensure that the Board returns to full functionality. This matter is being regarded as critical and urgent, and the Board has been given until the end of February 2025 to do so.