Chairperson, hon Minister, Deputy Minister, hon members and hon guests, management of the Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP, on the ground is not properly managed, especially the contract time frames that the department enters into with contractors. The payment of contractors is another factor. This demoralises our contactors to do business with the department.
It should be emphasized to the provincial administration that the portfolio committee is entitled to conduct oversights and, as a result, must be treated with respect in the sense that we fully need to know their strengths and weaknesses. There is also a number of projects for us to choose ourselves instead of them choosing for us.
Creating sustainable jobs still remain a challenge in our country. However, we acknowledge the efforts of the department in striving to create jobs for South Africans even though they might not be sustainable.
Hon Minister, your department's endeavour to empower South Africans with skills is moving at a snail's pace and needs to be jacked up. Students from Further Education and Training, FET, colleges and skilled labourers who are no longer employed could be helped to fill the gap of leadership in the building industry. Let us get South Africa working. By so doing we will be creating opportunities for all the people of South Africa.
In the last financial year your department promised to create 500 000 jobs with its EPWP throughout the country. However, the target was never reached, even though it was not too far from the said target. Government-wide Immovable Asset Management, Giama, must be extended to municipalities to ensure that all properties that belong to municipalities are known. There are too many properties that belong to the municipalities.
In yesterday's Business News of The Star newspaper your department gave itself top marks for the creation of decent work opportunities for South Africa's unemployed. [Interjections.]