Western Cape EPWP Transforms Policing
Editor – George C April
Cape Town:- Across the Western Cape, a wave of youth energy is transforming police infrastructure, block by block.
Under the SAPS Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), hundreds of young men and women are repainting community service centres, refurbishing detention cells, and applying official SAPS branding to patrol vehicles.
Launched in June 2022 in collaboration with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, the project is now in Phase 2. It’s empowering unemployed youth with skills, training, and work experience – opening real paths into the job market.
So far, over 5 000 young people have benefitted. Many have progressed to careers in the public sector, and some have joined SAPS as full-time constables.
For SAPS, the internal maintenance and refurbishment capabilities have cut millions in contractor costs, allowing more funds to reach frontline policing.
During a recent visit, Western Cape MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, praised the initiative’s role in upskilling and creating opportunities:
“These opportunities not only increase employability but open doors to entrepreneurship.”
These young participants are doing more than restoring buildings and vehicles, they’re restoring pride, purpose, and community trust.
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