The announcement follows Macpherson's nationwide listening tour, during which he engaged directly with EPWP recipients and heard allegations of abuse, exclusion, and exploitation by politicians and officials.

Speaking during a meeting with a Tanzanian delegation in Boksburg, Gauteng Province on Tuesday, Macpherson outlined his vision for the programme.

"We've got to make sure that all opportunities are always given out fairly and transparently. And that doesn't happen at the moment because they're located mostly in councillors' offices, and so we want to take it out of that space," he stated.

Macpherson emphasised the need to move beyond traditional EPWP roles, such as grass-cutting and litter-picking, and focus on equipping participants with skills that align with market demands.

"People want to be able to attain skills that they can use in construction programmes. We are having discussions with construction companies and other social partners to identify what the market is looking for. This will allow us to train people on-site, enabling them to gain those skills and be employable by companies in their local areas," he explained.

--SABC/ChannelAfrica--