by Ramona Baijnath
The dominant narrative of Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) ben- eficiaries in South Africa has been largely documented through government communication channels under the titles of Beneficiary Stories and EPWP Changing LivesTestimonials.These stories indicate that PublicWorks Programme (PWP) beneficiaries are able to save or invest towards the realisation of short- term 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 beneficiary, 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 beneficiaries 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 finds that although participants value the financial 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.
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06.FA_April-2023_Volume-4-Issue-1_Workplace-Experiences-of-Infrastructure-Sector-Participants-in-South-Africas-Expanded-Public-Works-Programme