A Proud Moment as CWP Participants Graduate

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Deputy Minister, Andries Nel addressed the Community Work Programme (CWP) graduation ceremony held in Mahikeng on 08 June 2018.

Among the 146 graduates who were officially handed their certificates,  fifty-five of them were young CWP participants who had successfully completed their environmental training pitched at National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 2.

The Community Work Programme is government’s initiative to address poverty. Participants are recruited from poor households into the programme to do useful work. Some of the useful work of the CWP include environmental work which includes beautification and clean up campaigns, agriculture work which involves the creation of food gardens to promote food security in vulnerable households, social work which includes providing support to early childhood development centres and infrastructure work which involves filling potholes.

Currently, the CWP has recruited 303 820 participants into the programme.

Describing the occasion as life-changing, a visibly elated Deputy Minister Nel said; “We would like to congratulate all the graduates for all the hard work and dedicated effort they have put in their studies. South Africa awaits educated citizens to contribute in addressing the triple challenges faced by our country, namely poverty, inequality and unemployment.”

The Department of Cooperative Governance entered into a partnership with the Department of Public Works and Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSETA) to train EPWP and CWP participants.

Earlier this year, during North West University’s April graduation ceremony at the Potchefstroom Campus, a total of 16 CWP participants received their Grade R Teaching Diplomas.

Deputy Minister Nel said the programme’s success had its foundation in the establishment of meaningful partnerships. “We appreciate that this partnership has also benefited the Community Work Programme, where 55 of the 146 graduates are from the CWP and have successfully completed their environment training,” he said.