Workplace Experiences of Infrastructure Sector Participants in South Africa’s Expanded Public Works Programme

Abstract

The dominant narrative of Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) benefciaries in South Africa has been largely documented through government communication channels under the titles of Benefciary Stories and EPWP Changing Lives Testimonials. These stories indicate  that Public Works Programme (PWP) benefciaries are able to save or invest towards the realisation of shortterm goals including  education and the purchase of household equipment. The South African government narrative is enormously triumphant in creating a powerful single story of the EPWP benefciary, which focuses on the positive impact(s) of this temporary income transfer. However, thus  far, scant research has been conducted on the work experiences of women participating in these projects. The focal point of this research  was to understand the work experiences of women benefciaries participating in the Zuvuseni Reloaded and National Youth  Services EPWP projects. This article hones in on the experiences of nine black South African women participants utilising the life history  narrative technique coupled with an African feminist lens. The article fnds that although participants value the fnancial reprieve provided  by the EPWP stipend, as documented in government narratives, and are proud of their newly acquired skill set, they face institutionalised  prejudice within the workplace.