Hon Speaker, hon members, government already allocates substantial funding to the Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP, administered by the municipalities, by the provincial and national departments and by a wide range of partner organisations.
This programme will spend an estimated R73 billion over the next three years. In 2011-12, about 800 000 work opportunities of 104 days duration on average will be supported. The Expanded Public Works Programme has demonstrated considerable success in targeting youth, women and people with disabilities.
Government therefore has gained considerable experience in creating employment opportunities for disadvantaged groups, and is well prepared to extend this experience into expanding existing programmes and new initiatives, which will be focused on self-sustaining employment supported through the new Jobs Fund.
Funding for job creation and funding targeted at special initiatives for women, youth and people with physical disabilities will be allocated to provinces, taking into account their population, levels of unemployment and potential for effective project management, in partnership with the private sector.
The Constitution sets out clear criteria of fairness and transparency in the allocation of funds between provinces and municipalities. It is, however, also important that provinces and municipalities develop sound and forward-looking growth and development plans, taking into account their economic potential and comparative advantages.
Consultation with the business sector and all stakeholders is important to ensure that infrastructure spending, business investment, training and skills development, and enterprise finance are well aligned and effectively co-ordinated towards agreed economic and development goals. Thank you.