The Deputy Minister of Social Development, Mrs Maria Ntuli, will host the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Social Sector conference. The EPWP is one of government’s programmes aimed at alleviating poverty and providing income relief through temporary work for the unemployed to carry out socially useful activities.
The purpose of the conference is to:

• Evaluate progress made since the EPWP Conference in 2012;
• Serve as a learning forum for all stakeholders;
• Serve as an accountability platform for the different partners;
• Review the work conducted by the implementing departments in the current financial year;
• Deliberate on strategic policy initiatives as pronounced by government;
• Identify new areas of expansion for the sector to achieve set targets; and
• To plan for the coming financial year.

The conference will be held under the theme, “EPWP Social Sector United in Action towards Socio-Economic Freedom.” Deliberations of the conference will focus on Youth Unemployment, the National Development Plan as well as Active Citizenry, among other issues.
The conference will also have commissions, in which people who benefited from the EPWP will have an opportunity to share their experiences and discuss various socio-economic challenges.
Stakeholders and partners expected to attend the conference include the Departments of Public Works, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, and the South African Local Government Association.
The conference will be held as follows:

Venue: Mita Seperepere Convention Centre, Kimberley

Date: 05 – 08 March 2013

Time: 09h00 (daily)

For media RSVPs contact: Mr Jaconia Kobue on 082 313 4673, Mr Justice Ditshego on 079 4977 426, or Ms Nelmarie Van Wyk on 079 875 0849
For media enquiries please contact: Ms Lumka Oliphant on 083 484 8067.

ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENTS OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT