At the end of the 2021/2022 financial year, Women-at-Work, a women-only road-repair team that forms part of the Urban Mobility Directorate’s Road Infrastructure Management Department, received the ‘Most improved Implementer’ award at the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Award ceremony hosted by the EPWP Corporate Office. Last year, the team won an award for the Best EPWP Infrastructure Project.
The project was launched three years ago, in July 2019, and started with 114 EPWP Trainee Assistant Level 1 participants and two EPWP Project Trainee Level 1 beneficiaries in December 2020.
The concept is based on transitioning women-only road repair and maintenance teams into a male-dominated environment through a pervasive training and change management support programme. It includes supportive components of each aspect of the HR value chain, such as selection and recruitment, on boarding, training, performance management and career development. The programme further provides management at depot level with the necessary change support and skills to create a gender sensitive and conducive environment.
Urban Mobility ultimately aims to create permanent job opportunities through the development of competent, empowered women maintenance teams and in doing so, meeting Employment Equity targets. At the end of the programme, the women are equipped to either apply for a permanent position or start their own business.
‘Winning once is amazing, but winning a second time is empowering. I am extremely proud of this team and I was privileged to see them hard at work. I visited Kraaifontein to see the women hard at work and it was encouraging to see women thriving in what-is-perceived by some to be a man’s world. These women are really owning the space,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.
The theme of this year’s EPWP award ceremony was ‘Onwards towards excellence’ and it recognised achievements and accomplishments that contribute to the objectives of the Urban Mobility Directorate and the City within all sectors across Directorates.
The main objectives of the Awards Programme are to:
- Mobilise government stakeholders and partners to increase their efforts around EPWP implementation and strive towards greater heights
- Communicate and showcase progress, impact, and successes of EPWP as a key government programme
- Create a platform to enhance visibility of the EPWP and reinforce its objectives to a broader audience
Winners are reviewed according to their adherence to the EPWP objective and principles, the duration of work opportunities, skills development, monthly reporting, project expenditure and service delivery objectives.
Other categories that were recognised included:
- Best EPWP Infrastructure Project
- Best EPWP Social Sector Project
- Best EPWP Environmental and Culture Project
- Best EPWP Skills Project
- Best EPWP Support Team
- EPWP Project Implementation Team.
‘What’s even more exciting is that approximately 80% of the 116 beneficiaries who participated in this programme are now permanent City employees. This is directly linked to one of our key objectives aimed at investing in expanded public and community works programmes that will provide long-term employment. Most of these women are sole breadwinners. These women saw an opportunity, grabbed it, worked hard and now are also able to enjoy economic inclusion. This proves that with hard work and determination, anything is possible,’ said Councillor Quintas.
Programmes that were included include safety and roadworks, flagman and various plant and equipment operator training.
