Abstract
Background: To address poverty and unemployment, local government implemented programmes, such as the Community Work Programme (CWP), aimed at empowering the community through the provision of employment and skills to provide a safety net to the poor by allowing them to earn a monthly wage.Aim: This study aimed to investigate the CWP’s contribution towards employment or job creation within Region 1 of the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality community, specifically in Erasmus and Soshanguve.Setting: A CWP was started 11 years ago in the City of Tshwane, in Region 1 – Erasmus and Soshanguve. It provides wages to 2000 people.Method: A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire with a face-to-face interview of 219 respondents.Results: The results reveal that the CWP is contributing financially to the well-being of the participants, but the latter tend to stay with the CWP and do not progress to permanent employment. Although some participants intend to start their own business, it seems they lack the skills.Conclusion: Although participants benefited financially and socially, it seems that limited skills were acquired, particular entrepreneurial skills relevant to starting an own business venture. It is recommended that the data be further analysed with regard to the level of satisfaction and skills capacity development by the CWP.
Highlights
In 2000, the South African government signed the Millennium Development Goals declaration (MDGs) to eradicate extreme hunger and poverty by 2015 (South African Local Government Association [SALGA] 2016:16), but by 2021, little progress had been made as far as economic development is concerned
The majority (60%) had no matric, whilst 40% had a matric certificate, including a few with tertiary qualifications
Of the respondents, the majority (60%) had no matric, whilst 40% had a matric certificate, including a few with tertiary qualifications
Summary
In 2000, the South African government signed the Millennium Development Goals declaration (MDGs) to eradicate extreme hunger and poverty by 2015 (South African Local Government Association [SALGA] 2016:16), but by 2021, little progress had been made as far as economic development is concerned. The South African government has used various strategies, including progressive fiscal redistribution, to address unemployment, poverty and inequality (Cook 2019:7). In 2017, the unemployment rate was 24% in the City of Tshwane, whilst 50% of the population lived below the minimum poverty level (City of Tshwane 2019:11). 811 570 households (27.7% of the Tshwane municipal population) reside in Region 1, representing the highest number of residents living in poverty (City of Tshwane 2019). According to the 2011 census, 127 000 economically active individuals in this region were unemployed, representing 19% of the region’s population (City of Tshwane 2019). To address poverty and unemployment, local government implemented programmes, such as the Community Work Programme (CWP), aimed at empowering the community through the provision of employment and skills to provide a safety net to the poor by allowing them to earn a monthly wage
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