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The Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID) has once again failed the residents and by not fulfilling its mandate to create several Expanded Public Works Programme work opportunities for the fourth quarter of the 2021/2022 financial year. This appears to be a trend, as the department has also failed to meet its EPWP targets during the third quarter of the 2021/2022 financial year.

Job creation by the government is important, especially through a programme like the EPWP, as it provides our unemployed residents who are unable to further their studies with critical workplace skills that will empower them to find long-term gainful employment in the future. In addition, this programme also provides the opportunity for the development of an Artisan’s Programme.

According to the quarterly report, GDID had only created 10 807 EPWP work opportunities against a target of 24 608. Furthermore, the department also failed to meet its annual targets for the EPWP in the following sectors:

• 7,117 out of an annual target of 21,009 for the infrastructure sector.
• 19,280 out of an annual target of 22,369 for the social sector.
• 1,590 out of an annual target of 1,552 for the environmental sector.
• 14,610 out of an annual target of 55,039 for municipalities.

The fact that this department consistently fails to meet its EPWP targets is of great concern to the DA, given the fact that there are currently 2.6 million unemployed people in the province.

It is time that the GDID starts delivering on its mandate as it is one of the key drivers of economic opportunities in our province. GDID has a responsibility to act as coordinator of all EPWP programmes in other departments and when those departments fail GDID must take responsibility and be held accountable.

The time has now come for Premier David Makhura to get MEC Tasneem Motara in line. It is unacceptable that we have an entire department that continuously draws a salary, while the quarterly reports clearly indicate that they are not delivering on their set targets.

This behaviour has been allowed to continue because consequence management is non-existent within the Premier Makhura-led administration. The DA is once again calling on Premier Makhura to dissolve this department as Gauteng residents are the ones constantly bearing the brunt of this ill-equipped department.

Issued by DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Infrastructure Development and Property Management Nico de Jager