Stretching the concept of the expanded public works programme in South Africa: Tracing the footsteps and gauging the footprints - the unfinished rural development transformation story

Abstract

This study is an attempt at drawing policy attention and debate to the complex inter-relationship between gender relations, income and productive assets through an analysis of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in South Africa's rural areas. The assessment is strengthened through benchmarking the EPWP with the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) of India. The departure point critiques the policy components and gaps in employment and productive gender discrimination and inequality. In doing so, the paper stretches the concept of the EPWP in South Africa in two ways. First, by tracing the footsteps of EPWP, a distinct profile of the existing situation is portrayed. Second, through gaugung the footprints of EPWP, the impact and contribution of the concept is captured.