Finance and Economic Opportunities
What is the number of job opportunities that have been created in the province as a result of the (a) presidential youth employment stimulus and (b) other direct national government interventions and investments?
I can only answer with respect to the two Departments for which I am the Executive Authority. I am therefore informed as follows by the
Provincial Treasury and the Department of Economic Development and Tourism:
Provincial Treasury:
- In the 2021 National Adjustments Budget, the Western Cape Government received R603.034 million through the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative of which R566.360 million was allocated toward the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and R36.404 million was allocated toward the Department of Health and Wellness. For 2022/23 and 2023/24, the WCED received R267.491 million and R530.927 million, respectively.
In 2021/22, the Department of Health and Wellness created 1 600 job opportunities. The WCED created 27 144 and 21 000 job opportunities in 2021/22 and 2022/23, respectively.
- In 2021/22, the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) was allocated R1.331 billion across the relevant departments. A total number of 111 298 work opportunities were created against a target of 65 594 and 35 287 full time equivalent opportunities were created against a target of 23 342.
In 2022/23, R1.335 billion was allocated to the EPWP across the relevant provincial departments. A total number of 99 740 work opportunities were created against a target of 66 654, and 25 782 full time equivalent opportunities were created against a target of 23 690.
Department of Economic Development and Tourism:
- The Department was a recipient of R11.477m from the Presidential Youth Employment Stimulus in the current financial year. The Department’s contribution to the project was R18.552m. The jobs target is 763 of which the Department has delivered 1066. The funds are in support of the Department’s experiential learning programme and has or will be allocated towards monthly learner stipends.
The Department was also recipient of R75m from GTAC - National Treasury (project commenced January 2023) and R18m from BankSETA (agreement was concluded in June 2022), in addition to the R11.477m referenced above. In requesting national government funds, the Department is expected to match or better leveraged funding, which is done. All the referenced funding received are in support of the Department’s experiential learning programmes, vis-à-vis, leaner stipend support.
