City upscales skills programme to equip youth workforce

01 May 2026

In light of Workers’ Day, the City of Cape Town is highlighting its successful partnership with the National Business Initiative (NBI) to expand opportunities for unemployed youth through the Installation, Repair and Maintenance (IRM) Programme. Currently, this exciting Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) initiative is equipping 250 youth to be more marketable and work-ready by focusing on technical skills development and practical work experience.

The IRM programme, implemented by the City’s Economic Growth Directorate and Urban Waste Management’s EPWP department, aims to equip young people with accredited technical skills while providing meaningful workplace experience across multiple City departments.

Following a successful pilot phase in the 2023/24 financial year, which saw 31 learners trained and placed in general repairer roles, the City with NBI upscaled the initiative to benefit up to 250 participants over a 12-month period.

Encouragingly, 18 learners from the pilot phase have already secured permanent employment both within the City and in the private sector, demonstrating the programme’s potential to create pathways into sustainable work.

The City is looking to continue this programme in future.

Through the partnership:

Participants are selected via NBI and the City’s Jobseekers Database.
The NBI provides accredited training, toolkits and protective clothing.
The City facilitates job placements and practical experience.
Learners gain exposure to real-world technical work environments across departments including Water and Sanitation, Recreation and Parks, Urban Mobility, and Human Settlements

About participants

The programme draws participants from previously disadvantaged communities, with a strong representation of women. Beneficiaries include young people with a range of technical backgrounds, from those who have completed handyman skills programmes to those with partially or fully completed TVET qualifications between NQF Levels 2 and 4.

Participants are placed in technical support roles that are aligned to their qualifications, where they assist artisans with general repair and maintenance work such as plumbing, carpentry and electrical tasks.

In addition to technical training, participants receive work readiness support and entrepreneurship development, equipping them with the skills to pursue both employment and self-employment opportunities and Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) training. The NBI further supports participants in accessing placements within the IRM sector and assists those who wish to establish their own businesses, contributing to enterprise development in township economies.

‘This programme is about more than just short-term work opportunities. It is about building practical skills, opening pathways into the job market, and supporting enterprise development within township economies. By combining accredited training with real workplace experience, we are giving young people a meaningful opportunity to participate in and contribute to the economy,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management, Alderman Grant Twigg.

‘The Economic Growth Directorate is proud to be involved in this partnership where unemployed youth will receive technical skills training to improve their employability and support enterprise development in communities where it’s needed most. The fact that we are expanding this opportunity from 31 youth to 250 highlights the need for these programmes and the hunger in communities for job training and associated opportunities. We look forward to being part of this journey with the learners, which will see them entering the workforce and contributing to the stimulation of local economies,’ said Alderman James Vos, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth.

How to register for EPWP work opportunities

The Expanded Public Works Programme continues to play a critical role in providing work opportunities while enabling participants to gain experience that improves their prospects for sustainable employment.

If you would like to be considered for EPWP work opportunities, the only way to do this is to register on the Jobseeker Database at your local sub-council office.

Jobseekers must bring:

A clear copy of ID
Proof of address (or an affidavit signed by a Commissioner of Oaths or Ward Councillor)
Household and contact details
Updated CV, including any previous EPWP work

Jobseekers can update their information in any of the following ways:

Visit a City of Cape Town Subcouncil Office or SmartCape Centre in a public library (weekdays, 08:00 – 15:30)
Email EPWP.Help@capetown.gov.za
Visit the EPWP Walk-in Centre at 50 Wale Street, Cape Town (weekdays, 08:00 – 15:30)

Jobseekers are also reminded to please ensure they update their details every 12 months to remain eligible for random selection.

For more information, contact the EPWP HelpDesk on 021 400 9406 or email epwp.help@capetown.gov.za (07:30 to 15:30).

Caption 1: Alderman Grant Twigg, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management, is sitting on a bench in Westridge Gardens that was made by the youth who are part of the City’s partnership initiative, the Installation, Repair and Maintenance (IRM) Programme, to provide youth with technical skills and practical workplace experience.

Caption 2: Alderman Grant Twigg, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management, (front centre) with youth who are part of the Installation, Repair and Maintenance (IRM) Programme that is providing them with skills and workplace experience to make them marketable in the industry.

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office