EPWP The Expanded Public Works Programme 2026
EPWP vacancies for 2026 are active, with recent openings like the Gauteng Health Department’s 195 fixed-term posts (Cleaners, Admin Clerks, Groundskeepers) closing early January, and general opportunities appearing across different municipalities for roles in public works, environment, and social sectors, requiring ongoing checks of provincial/local government sites like GPG Professional Job Centre and joburg.org.za for new listings.
These jobs offer work experience in areas like sanitation, administration, and maintenance, aiming to provide decent work and skills development.
Where to Find EPWP Vacancies
- Provincial Websites: Check specific provincial job portals (e.g., jobs.gauteng.gov.za) for current listings.
- Local Municipalities: Look at websites for cities like Johannesburg (joburg.org.za) for local EPWP roles.
- EPWP Portal: The official Expanded Public Works Programme website (epwp.gov.za) provides program information, though direct application links are usually found on department sites.
- Job Aggregators: Sites like Edupstairs and StudentRoom often list current EPWP opportunities.
EPWP Recent Examples (Early 2026)
- Gauteng Dept of Health: 195 posts (Cleaners, Admin Clerks, Groundskeepers) closed in January 2026.
- City of Joburg: Job opportunities listed for 2026 on their portal.
Common Roles
- Cleaners, Groundskeepers, Waste Collectors.
- Administration Clerks.
- Construction & Community Development Assistants.
- Environmental Maintenance.
How to Apply
- Follow instructions in specific adverts, often involving email applications or online portals.
- Ensure you meet minimum requirements (e.g., Grade 12) and submit before closing dates.
CLICK HERE FOR EPWP APPLICATION FORM
The Expanded Public Works Programme
has its origins in Growth and Development Summit (GDS) of 2003.
At the Summit, four themes were adopted, one of which was ‘More jobs, better jobs, decent work for all’.
The GDS agreed that public works programmes ‘can provide poverty and income relief through temporary work for the unemployed to carry out socially useful activities’.
This Programme is a key government initiative, which contributes to Government Policy Priorities in terms of decent work & sustainable livelihoods, education, health; rural development; food security & land reform and the fight against crime & corruption.
subscribes to outcome 4 which states “Decent employment through inclusive economic growth.
” The EPWP has been established and mandated by Cabinet to create work opportunities according to the set targets and across all its four sectors, namely: – Infrastructure, Non-State, Environment & Culture, and Social sectors.
One of the prescripts of the EPWP is to use labour-intensive methods which allow the drawing of a significant number of participants into the Programme to do the work.
Background EPWP Phase 2
The EPWP Unit in the Department of Public Works prepared a strategic review of the first phase of the EPWP which was presented to Cabinet in June 2026.
This review EPWP was based on extensive evaluations of the first phase of the programme and made a number of key recommendations for the second phase of the programme in order to increase the scale and impact in the second phase.
While the EPWP achieved its target of one million work opportunities one year ahead of time, some constraints were identified that limited its further expansion.
These included the limited authority of the Department of Public Works to demand contributions by provinces and municipalities, the lack of incentives in place for provinces and municipalities to maximise their employment creation efforts, lack of capacity among certain public bodies and insufficient political mobilisation in some areas.
Improved mechanisms were required to making fighting unemployment a priority for all spheres of government.
Objectives of the EPWP Phase 2
To create 4.5 million work opportunities for poor and unemployed people in South Africa so as to contribute significantly to halving unemployment by 2014, through the delivery of public and community services.
Public bodies from all spheres of government (in terms of their normal mandates and budgets) and the Non State sector (supported by government incentives) are anticipated to optimise the creation of work opportunities for unemployed and poor people in South Africa through the delivery of public and community services.
Training and enterprise development are implemented in sector specific programmes to enhance service delivery and beneficiary well-being.
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EPWP vacancies for 2026 are active, with recent openings like the Gauteng Health Department’s 195 fixed-term posts (Cleaners, Admin Clerks, Groundskeepers) closing early January, and general opportunities appearing across different municipalities for roles in public works, environment, and social sectors, requiring ongoing checks of provincial/local government sites like GPG Professional Job Centre and joburg.org.za for new listings. These jobs offer…