DPWI, AgriSETA partner in public works programme

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has announced that it has provided R66 million to AgriSETA for 400 people to be trained up as artisans, through the The Expanded Public Works (EPWP) programme.

The 400 will be recruited from the EPWP participants database.

The funding was funneled through the National Skills Fund (NSF) branch of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).

The funding is to cover skills programmes, learnerships and artisan development programmes for a number of years. On passing the trade test, the participants will have certificates indicating that they are qualified in their trade. 

Once applications have been received and the readiness of learners and workplaces in which to train them has been established and training providers have been contracted, the programme will run until September 2023, or until the project is completed.

AgriSETA will be organising the administration and giving technical support to the project. DPWI acting director-general, Imtiaz Fazel, said the DPWI had already partnered with AgriSETA on a similar project with positive results.

AgriSETA will then try to find employment for the participants when they qualify. Apprentices are often kept by the companies which trained them, or can help them become employed in the industry.

Alternatively, participants can start their own businesses.