The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in Mpumalanga has provided more than 170 000 people with employment over the past five years.

Spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport, David Nkambule, said phase two of the EPWP which covers the five-year period from 2009-2014 created a total of 174 718 work opportunities.

The infrastructure sector created 74 364 job opportunities, while 43 883 jobs were created under the environmental and culture sectors and the social sector contributed 56 471 jobs.

Nkambule was speaking during a three-day road show held across the province’s municipalities. The main objective was to report back on the performance of the EPWP to all public sector bodies, including municipalities, provincial departments and NGOs.

For phase three of the EPWP has a target for youth employment set at 55%. The third phase is expected to create at least 187 394 jobs in Mpumalanga under the theme, “EPWP changing many lives for the better”.