REPORT TO SUBCOUNCIL ON EXPANDED PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME (EPWP) IMPLEMENTATION AND PROGRESS IN THE 2019/20 FINANCIAL YEAR

1. Ms P Jansen reiterated the concerns raised by the members at the previous Subcouncil meeting, which included:

• Jobseekers from other areas are recruited to work in Bellville, Parow (Klipkop), Bellville South, Ravensmead and Belhar areas;
• Jobseekers not recruited from a specific area, street or flats e.g. park buddies, employment at Chestnut Flats and Area Cleaning project in Klipkop.

2. The Urban Management – Area North Department: Ms Shané Prins was invited to give a live demonstration of the Job Seeker Randomization Process.

3. Ms S Prins informed the members that the randomization process is subject to the information provided in the randomization request form submitted by the line department, which specifies the criteria for the project, such as the area, gender, age and skill required.

4. The Chairperson raised her concern that line departments do not understand the dynamics of the Subcouncil area, especially when they implement projects in flats and recruit people who do not reside in those flats.

5. Cllr L Van Der Walt enquired whether the randomisation process can make provision for the recruitment of park buddies.

6. Ms S Prins informed the members that the Job Seeker Database does not make provision for randomization from streets, only suburbs. Park buddies are required to live in the street where a park is located. Therefore, randomisation is done for the suburb and the randomised list of EPWP candidates are called to confirm if they reside in the relevant street.

7. Cllr R Viljoen informed the meeting that the recruitment of EPWP workers for the project: WPX.0011462 - Area Cleaning - Chestnut Flats included people who reside outside of Chestnut Flats.

8. Cllr R Viljoen enquired whether an EPWP worker can be appointed for each Subcouncil in order to do the randomization process with a view to improve the process.

9. Ms P Jansen recommended that the EPWP Office embarks on an awareness campaign with all the line departments to map all suburbs and areas in order to improve the randomization process.

1. That the item remains on the Matters Receiving Attention until resolved.
2. That the EPWP office provides feedback on the enhancements made on the Jobseeker Database System in order to address the concerns raised by the Councillors.