The eThekwini Municipality is reviving the troubled Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to help thousands of job seekers in the city amid rising unemployment. Mayor Cyril Xaba announced that the council has approved the revival of the programme, which had been halted in July due to a lack of funding from the Department of Public Works. The programme's budget was cut by over R42 million, reducing it to R18 million.

Despite this, the city has reallocated funds to support the programme, allowing for the recruitment of 1,276 participants for the 2024/25 financial year, down from the previous 4,000 participants. Applicants must be between 18 and 35 years old. The programme aims to equip young people with relevant job market skills. However, the programme has faced allegations of nepotism and other controversies since its launch in 2004. Xolani Shinga, deputy secretary of the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) in KZN, expressed skepticism about the programme's revival, noting that workers are not being offered full-time employment.

The union has been in conflict with the municipality over the programme's termination and has held protests to voice their grievances. The city maintains that the termination was due to budget cuts by the Department of Public Works. Smaller political parties have also joined the fight to prevent the termination of EPWP workers' employment.