Updated 2026-11-14
The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) creates work opportunities for unemployed people, usually for a temporary or contract period, while providing work experience and training. It operates through government, municipalities, contractors and non-governmental organisations. The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure describes it as a nationwide programme.
Never pay anyone to register, be selected or receive an EPWP job. Legitimate public recruitment is free.
There is not one application form or one identical set of entry requirements for every EPWP project. The implementing municipality, department, contractor or organisation recruits for its own project. Read the advert or registration notice for the area and role before applying.
Nationally, EPWP is intended to create work opportunities for unemployed people. The programme has four sectors: infrastructure, social, environment and culture, and non-state. Work can include labour-intensive public infrastructure, community and social services, environmental projects, or projects delivered through non-profit organisations and the Community Work Programme.
| What you should check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Your area of residence | Some databases and projects are limited to a municipality or project area. Nelson Mandela Bay, for example, says its service is for unemployed South African citizens residing in its municipal region. |
| Your employment status and skills | Cape Town says its EPWP route is open to unemployed and unskilled women and men, including youth and people with disabilities. |
| The role notice | A project can set its own duties, documents, location, contract period and selection process. Do not assume that registration guarantees placement. |
| Your documents | Cape Town requires a CV and an ID document or valid South African work permit. It asks applicants with disabilities to provide evidence of disability. Other implementing bodies may ask for different documents. |
EPWP employment is not normally a permanent government post. The Western Cape Government says EPWP jobs are temporary or contract-based. The national department says projects may employ people temporarily or on an ongoing basis, including through government, contractors or non-governmental organisations.
Start with the government body that runs projects where you live: your municipality, provincial department or the national EPWP and Department of Public Works and Infrastructure pages. Look for a current EPWP registration or project advert. Apply only through the method stated in that notice.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Prepare your information | Keep your ID or valid work permit and a short CV ready. Keep copies of any qualifications, work experience or disability evidence only if the notice requests them. |
| 2. Find the local route | Check your municipality or provincial government website for its EPWP database, registration office or project notice. Routes differ by location. |
| 3. Register or submit the application | Follow the advertised channel exactly. Record the date, office, reference number or confirmation message where you receive one. |
| 4. Wait for project-specific contact | Registration places you in a pool or database where that system is used. It is not a job offer. Selection depends on the project and its requirements. |
| 5. Verify before sharing data | Use official municipal or government contact details to check a message that asks for money or personal documents. Never pay a recruiter. |
Examples of local routes show why you must check your own area. In Cape Town, candidates are selected from the City's Job Seekers Database and can register at a subcouncil office or the central randomisation office at 52 Wale Street. In Nelson Mandela Bay, applicants register on the EPWP database using a form from the EPWP office, the municipal download route, or a ward councillor's office, then submit the stamped form with a shortened CV to the EPWP office.
The City of Tshwane announced a USSD registration channel on 20 November 2023: dial *120*5757#. The announcement said it was for people aged 18 to 60. Because that is a 2023 announcement, confirm with the City that the channel and conditions still apply before relying on it in 2026.
The work depends on the sector and project. Infrastructure projects use labour-intensive construction and maintenance methods. Social projects can support services in education, health, welfare, safety and protection. Environmental and culture projects can include work such as vegetation clearing, wetland rehabilitation, waste management and community tourism.
Training is part of the programme model. The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure says participants can receive on-the-job training, accredited or non-accredited training and learnerships. Ask the project employer what training, work schedule, contract terms and payment arrangements apply before accepting a placement.
The Western Cape Government says workers receive a stipend for completed EPWP work, and that payment is at the end of the month for completed tasks. These details can vary by project and implementing body, so rely on your written project offer for the terms that apply to you.
Do not assume a single national qualification rule. EPWP includes different types of work and each project can set its own requirements. Check the current project advert. Cape Town's general route is aimed at unemployed and unskilled applicants and requires a CV plus an ID document or valid South African work permit.
No. Registration is not a job offer. Nelson Mandela Bay says projects must first be identified and budgeted for, after which recruitment and selection follow. The local project and its needs determine placement.
They are generally temporary or contract-based. In Nelson Mandela Bay, the municipality says project contracts can range from one day to 12 months and may be renewable for another 12 months. This is a local example, not a national guarantee. Check the offer for the project you apply to.
No. Do not pay. Cape Town states that City job applications are free. Use only official government or municipal registration channels and verify any request for payment with the implementing body.
Contact the municipality or department named in the notice. Cape Town lists its EPWP Helpdesk as 021 400 9406 and epwp.help@capetown.gov.za. The national Department of Public Works and Infrastructure lists 0800 782 542 on its EPWP page.