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Cape Town - Public Works Minister Geoff Doidge said government's target to create 500 000 jobs by December and four million by 2014 is a conservative figure.
Addressing parliament during his budget vote speech on Wednesday, Doidge said government's extended public works programme (EPWP), coupled with a R787bn infrastructure drive, will make it possible to exceed these targets.
"Our country is rolling out the biggest infrastructure development programme in the developing world," Doidge said. "The infrastructure sector of the (EPWP) programme is positioned to contribute more jobs - more than 2.3 million - followed by the environment and culture sector at 1.1 million and the social and non-government sector with more than 1.3 million jobs.
"We are certain these figures are achievable, given what we have in our plans."
Doidge said mayors and premiers will be offered incentives to reach their specific targets.
The EPWP is a government initiative to create both short-term and ongoing job opportunities.
The target for phase one was to create a million jobs and, according to government, this was achieved a year ahead of schedule.
The second phase of the programme was launched in April 2009. Its distinguishing feature was the introduction of a fiscal incentive that will be available to support infrastructure projects funded by provinces and municipalities.
This phase's employment target is four million jobs by 2014, with an immediate target of 500 000 in the first nine months of its implementation.
Doidge said more is possible.
"Already a total of 111 potential EPWP projects - with a combined value in excess of R3bn - have been identified for the current financial year through our network of regional offices spread throughout the country, creating job opportunities for about 3 800 beneficiaries.
"As the plan is rolled out, we shall have the necessary research capacity built into this system not only for regular report-backs, but also to ensure that best-practice models are recorded," said Doidge.
- Fin24.com